US and UK Decline to Sign Final Statement at French-Led AI Summit, Prioritizing Innovation Over Regulation
The United States and the United Kingdom have opted not to sign the final declaration of the AI Action Summit, a global conference hosted by France that emphasized the ethical, inclusive, and secure development of artificial intelligence.
Held in Paris on February 10-11, the summit gathered representatives from over 100 countries, including government officials, international organizations, academics, and AI researchers. Key priorities outlined in the declaration included ensuring AI accessibility, fostering ethical and trustworthy AI systems, promoting innovation while preventing monopolization, leveraging AI for labor market benefits, making AI development environmentally sustainable, and enhancing international cooperation on AI governance.
A total of 60 countries signed the statement, which proposed initiatives such as the creation of a public-interest AI platform and incubator, as well as a global network of observatories to assess AI’s impact on employment and workplaces. However, the US and UK declined to endorse the agreement, citing concerns over regulatory approaches that might stifle innovation.
US and UK Push Back Against Regulatory Measures
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the summit, strongly criticized what he described as excessive regulation of AI, arguing that such policies could hinder progress in one of the most transformative technological fields of this generation.
“Restricting AI development now would mean paralyzing one of the most promising technologies we have seen in decades,” Vance stated. “We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it is taking off.”
Vance also reaffirmed the US position on AI governance, rejecting any form of content moderation that could lead to ideological bias or censorship. “AI must remain free from ideological bias, and American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship,” he added.
The UK government also expressed reservations about the summit’s final declaration, citing differences in approach compared to the AI Safety Summit it hosted in 2023. Officials indicated that some of the language in the agreement did not align with Britain’s strategy for AI oversight.
A Shift in US AI Policy
The US stance at the summit signals a significant policy shift. Experts, including Russell Wald from the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, interpret this as a move toward prioritizing rapid innovation over regulatory concerns.
“Safety is not going to be the primary focus,” Wald told Reuters on February 11. “Instead, it’s going to be accelerated innovation and the belief that the technology is an opportunity. The concern is that safety equals regulation, and regulation means losing that opportunity.”
The European Union’s AI Act, which came into effect in August, established the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for AI governance. In contrast, the US appears to be taking a more hands-off approach under the new administration.
In September, the US had joined the EU, UK, and several other nations in signing the Framework Convention on AI, a landmark treaty emphasizing human rights and democratic values in AI governance. However, after assuming office in January, President Donald Trump rescinded the Biden administration’s executive order on AI, which had established reporting requirements for AI companies.
With the US and UK emphasizing innovation over strict oversight, the global AI regulatory landscape is increasingly fragmented, raising questions about the future of international cooperation in governing the technology.
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