PARIS — The spotlight will be on the geopolitics of artificial intelligence at a significant summit taking place in France. World leaders, corporate executives, and experts will gather to discuss commitments aimed at guiding the development of this swiftly evolving technology.
This summit marks the latest in an ongoing series of global discussions about AI governance, coinciding with a pivotal moment in the industry, particularly after the emergence of China’s innovative and cost-effective DeepSeek chatbot, which is making waves worldwide.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will be representing the United States at the Paris AI Action Summit, commencing on February 10. This trip marks his first international engagement since taking office. Similarly, China’s President Xi Jinping will be sending a special envoy to emphasize the importance of this meeting.
The summit will bring together heads of state and high-ranking government officials, along with leaders from the tech industry and research communities, for a two-day event spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The primary agenda is to explore how to maximize the benefits of artificial intelligence for all while mitigating the diverse risks associated with it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and officials from over 80 countries will attend, including notable figures such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Although Tesla’s Elon Musk, who was present at the inaugural summit last year in England, and DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng have been invited, their attendance remains uncertain.
The summit will feature panel discussions and workshops at the Grand Palais, followed by a dinner at the Elysee presidential palace for world leaders and CEOs. The closing session on Tuesday will include speeches by leaders and business executives.
As generative AI continues its remarkable progress over two years after the launch of ChatGPT, the technology is reshaping everyday life with its ability to produce impressive text, images, and video, as well as tackle intricate tasks. The prior summit in the U.K. led to a non-binding agreement among 28 nations to address AI-related risks, and a subsequent meeting in South Korea established plans for a network of public AI safety institutes to promote research and testing.
AI safety remains a key focus at the Paris summit, with an expert group preparing to report on the significant dangers posed by general-purpose AI. However, this meeting aims to include a broader set of countries and encompass various discussions surrounding multiple AI-related themes. As with earlier summits, no legally binding regulations are expected to emerge from these discussions.
“The summit occurs at a time when many are aiming to define their positions in international competition,” Macron acknowledged, stating, “It’s about establishing the rules of the game. AI cannot be the Wild West.”
The organizers are hoping to achieve a joint political declaration that outlines commitments to promote ethical, democratic, and environmentally sustainable AI. However, it’s still unclear whether the U.S. will consent to such a proposal.
An initiative named “Current AI” is set to launch with an initial investment of $400 million. This public-interest partnership aims to gather a total of $2.5 billion over the next five years, involving governments, businesses, and philanthropic organizations, all working to offer open-source access to databases, software, and tools for “trusted” AI developers.
Macron’s administration is shifting the focus from simply competing to create superior AI through robust computing capacity to instead facilitating wider access to data that can enable AI to help solve complex problems, such as cancer and long COVID. Martin Tisné, the summit’s envoy for public interest AI, emphasized the opportunity to mitigate potential AI hazards while ensuring technology is leveraged to enhance the quality of life.
Reflecting on U.S. policies, former President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to position the U.S. as the “world capital of artificial intelligence,” drawing on its extensive oil and gas reserves to support the energy demands of AI. In contrast, he has sought to withdraw from previous commitments, including the Paris climate agreement, and has rescinded executive orders aimed at creating AI regulations.
Trump is substituting previous policies with his own aimed at preserving the U.S.’s global leadership in AI by lowering regulatory barriers and building unbiased AI systems. The U.S. stance might create obstacles to a unified communiqué, as indicated by Nick Reiners, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group.
Reiners pointed out, “Trump is opposed to the very concept of global governance. There’s a clear path to get nations to agree on regulating AI and recognizing its safety concerns, yet the widened scope encompasses many issues—like the future of work and environmental impacts—making broader consensus challenging.”
China is also navigating its role in this landscape, evidenced by Xi sending Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing as his special representative. This move represents a notable upgrade in China’s participation, particularly compared to their previous attendance by a lower-ranking official in 2023. Reiners noted that Xi is signaling a desire for China to take a prominent role in global AI governance amidst the U.S.’s retreat.
The recent launch of DeepSeek has alarmed the international community due to its capabilities, which rival notable Western chatbots like ChatGPT. This also highlights the ongoing technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Trump referred to DeepSeek as a “wake-up call” for the U.S. tech industry, amidst concerns regarding its security and privacy implications, leading to investigations and bans in several nations.
However, the rise of DeepSeek demonstrates that China’s intentions align with France’s goal of developing a robust European AI strategy, as both nations look to compete with advancements spearheaded by the U.S. and China. Macron is optimistic about creating avenues for French startups, like Mistral, which also develops open-source AI systems.
Finally, potential friction may arise with the European Union, which has consistently challenged large American technology firms with antitrust actions. Trump previously voiced frustrations at the World Economic Forum, criticizing EU fines, which he deemed as taxing American companies. Recently, the EU’s proposed AI regulations have met skepticism from tech firms, with Meta expressing unwillingness to abide by certain guidelines.
The EU’s non-binding code of practice for the AI Act aims to establish uniform regulatory application across its member states but has been labeled “unworkable” by some, leading to concerns that Europe’s strict regulatory climate might sideline it in global AI advancements.
