Global leaders and technology executives gathered in Paris to explore safe strategies for adopting artificial intelligence amidst growing opposition to strict regulations that businesses argue hinder innovation.
The enthusiasm for stringent AI controls has diminished since earlier AI summits held in Britain and South Korea, where discussions centered on the technology’s potential dangers following the widespread popularity of ChatGPT in 2022.
As US President Donald Trump dismantles his predecessor’s AI regulations to enhance US competitiveness, EU policymakers face increased pressure to adopt a more lenient AI framework to ensure European enterprises remain competitive in the tech landscape.
Several EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit, along with tech firms, are advocating for a more flexible interpretation of the bloc’s new AI Act to support local startups.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to participate in the Paris summit.
“We should not fear innovation,” he remarked.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will join the summit in Paris after meeting senior EU officials in Brussels.
AI Act
President Trump’s initial actions on AI highlight the significant divergence in regulatory strategies for AI among the United States, China, and the EU.
Last year, European legislators approved the EU’s AI Act, which is hailed as the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for the technology.
Tech giants and some member states are advocating for its lenient enforcement. The EU is in the process of finalizing an accompanying code of practice.
Furthermore, Trump’s deregulated stance has empowered cautious US tech giants from which Europe seeks investment, as stated by British think tank Chatham House.
In parallel, China’s DeepSeek last month challenged US and UK AI dominance by publicly releasing a human-like reasoning system, prompting geopolitical and industry competitors to accelerate their efforts.
“A chaotic global race to develop AI is underway, as the US focuses inward while China showcases new capabilities,” noted Chatham House.
President Trump will not send representatives from the US AI Safety Institute to Paris, a concerning signal for those hoping for collaborative global risk management regarding AI.
Political leaders
Key political figures such as US Vice President JD Vance and China’s Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will attend the summit.
Other notable attendees include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Prior to the summit, France secured an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish a significant AI data center.
President Macron is scheduled to meet with Mr. Guoqing later and Mr. Vance tomorrow, according to the Élysée Palace. The plenary session is slated for 11 February.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also engage with Vice President Vance in Paris tomorrow, as confirmed by a commission spokesperson.
Prominent executives like Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are expected to deliver speeches as well. Executives will also join a private dinner with political leaders afterward.
Google Senior Vice President James Manyika stated at a press briefing yesterday that the prospects associated with AI are now receiving “a much greater focus.”
More investment
One of the summit’s outcomes was the launch of Current AI, a collaborative initiative between countries like France and Germany, along with industry players including Google and Salesforce.
With an initial investment of $400 million (€387 million), this partnership will lead public-interest projects aimed at providing high-quality AI data and investing in open-source tools. The initiative targets a total investment of up to $2.5 billion (€2.4 billion) over the next five years.
Martin Tisné, the founder of Current AI, emphasized to Reuters the importance of maintaining a public-interest focus to prevent negative consequences associated with AI, similar to those experienced with social media. “We must learn from past lessons,” he stated.
Separately, France plans to announce private sector investments amounting to approximately €109 billion ($113 billion) during the summit, as indicated by President Macron yesterday.
“The scale of this €100 billion investment reassures us, in a sense, that ambitious projects will emerge in France,” commented Clem Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face, a US company founded by French entrepreneurs that serves as a hub for open-source AI online.
Delangue stated his company would double its investment in France to expand its workforce and concentrate on technological advancements, including robotics, though he refrained from disclosing the exact amount.
Risks
Not everyone in Paris concurred with a relaxed approach to AI regulation.
Regarding regulation, “there’s a stark contrast between the US and the EU at present,” remarked Brian Chen, policy director at Data & Society, a US non-profit researching the societal implications of AI.
“My concern is that external pressures, particularly from the US, may lead to diminishing the EU’s AI Act and eroding existing protections,” he said.
Labor leaders also expressed worries about the impact of AI on employment, particularly the fate of workers whose jobs are displaced by AI and forced to transition into new roles.
Gilbert F. Houngbo, director-general of the International Labour Organization, noted, “There is a risk that these new jobs may be lower-paying and offer less protection.”
Delegations are also anticipated to discuss how to address AI’s substantial energy consumption amidst global warming and the potential for AI applications in developing countries. A non-binding communiqué is currently under development.
President Macron is keen to bolster France’s domestic industry, focusing on sectors where Europe’s second-largest economy has a competitive edge: free, “open-source” systems, and sustainable energy for powering data centers.
Ahead of the summit, France secured a deal with the United Arab Emirates to establish a significant AI data center, representing investments of up to €48 billion.
Launching a new app utilizing generative AI software, the CEO of Nvidia-backed French startup Mistral stated to Reuters: “The French and the entire world are coming to realize that European players are pivotal and deliver cutting-edge technology.”
