Drawing world leaders, top tech executives and policymakers from across the globe – the AI summit in Paris aims to lay the groundwork on how to govern the budding sector. But during a roundtable discussion on how to use AI and uphold democratic principles, key players from the sector failed to make an appearance.
Issued on: 11/02/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: Jean-Luc MOUNIER
PHOTOS © Jean-Luc Mounier, FRANCE 24
The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris on February 10, 2025.
Under the striking glass vaults of the Grand Palais in Paris, world leaders and tech titans gathered for a two-day summit dedicated to artificial intelligence. The heart of the event space, tucked in between the Seine and the iconic Champs-Élysées, was organised like an exhibition hall packed with dozens of stands showcasing the various ways AI can be used.
Climbing up the stairs in the building’s majestic nave, a display of flags decorated the railing, boasting the different nationalities taking part in the summit. At the top, a handful of key players gathered on Monday afternoon in the VIP lounge to discuss the impact AI could have on democracies.
But a few VIPs were missing. Representatives from some of the most influential companies in the sector including Open AI, Google and Microsoft played hooky.
Under the striking glass vaults of the Grand Palais in Paris, world leaders and tech titans gathered for a two-day summit dedicated to artificial intelligence. The heart of the event space, tucked in between the Seine and the iconic Champs-Élysées, was organised like an exhibition hall packed with dozens of stands showcasing the various ways AI can be used.
Climbing up the stairs in the building’s majestic nave, a display of flags decorated the railing, boasting the different nationalities taking part in the summit. At the top, a handful of key players gathered on Monday afternoon in the VIP lounge to discuss the impact AI could have on democracies.
But a few VIPs were missing. Representatives from some of the most influential companies in the sector including Open AI, Google and Microsoft played hooky.
Roundtable discussion on how to leverage AI to protect democracy at the Paris AI summit on February 10, 2025.
Their absences were criticised by Meredith Whittaker, president of the end-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal who worked at Google for over a decade and helped organise mass walkouts, partly fuelled by the company’s handling of AI ethics, before resigning in July 2019.
“The large-scale approach to AI is damaging [societies],” she said.
Their absences were criticised by Meredith Whittaker, president of the end-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal who worked at Google for over a decade and helped organise mass walkouts, partly fuelled by the company’s handling of AI ethics, before resigning in July 2019.
“The large-scale approach to AI is damaging [societies],” she said.
Security threats
“AI has profound consequences on our private lives,” Whittaker continued. To illustrate her point, Whittaker referred to the handful of telecoms companies in the US including Verizon and AT&T who fell victim to a sweeping Chinese-linked espionage operation known as Salt Typhoon in December last year. A vast amount of US users had their metadata taken as a result, and officials associated with both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s campaign ahead of the November presidential elections were targeted.
“From a security standpoint, what happened was a disaster. And it was made possible by backdoors [programmes that allow hackers to access a computer system or encrypted data remotely] being installed by authorities who were meant to be the only ones to access them,” the Signal president explained.
Meredith Whittaker, president of encrypted messaging app Signal.
For Whittaker, AI was “born from the business model of surveillance”. And when it comes to hacking, “data can be used as a weapon” against US democracy.
The threat is undeniable for Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who shares Whittaker’s views. Rinkevics explained how, “due to the geopolitical and geographical situation” of his country, “Latvia has been exposed to cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns” in recent years. With Russia as its neighbour, Latvia and the other Baltic countries Estonia and Lithuania bore the brunt of cyber-attacks in recent years. EU member states have repeatedly been the target of Russian cyber-attacks in 2024.
Before he went into detail about the specific threats Latvia faces, Rinkevics stressed that “the priority is to protect critical infrastructure and monitor the situation in the Baltic Sea", where several undersea telecoms, power and data cables were sabotaged in recent months.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics
“With regards to democracy, AI has been used to meddle in elections, especially in Romania,” Rinkevics added. “In Latvia, we passed a law that requires [all content created by] AI to be labelled” so that people can identify when it has been used. Rather than being wary of the technology, Rinkevics believes “we need more expertise to understand exactly where cyber-attacks come from and how to better protect our democracies".
Read more‘Aggressive' Russian cyber attacks boosted Romania's pro-Moscow presidential candidate
In a leap of faith, Latvia signed an agreement with Microsoft in December last year to develop a National Center for Artificial Intelligence. Its aims include promoting AI and other digital solutions to modernise the country’s administrative processes.
Need for global AI safeguards
From eerily accurate deep-fakes to social media accounts usurped by scammers for money, artificial intelligence has many faces. And that is partly why it is such a threat to democracies. “AI can make it easier to carry out cyber-attacks, which have become more sophisticated now that tools generating complex code can be used to this end,” warned Marie-Laure Denis, President of the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL).
Marie-Laure Denis, President of the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL)
Denis believes that solutions to protect democracies should stem from a diverse range of safeguards, starting with the general data protection regulation (GDPR), implemented in the EU since 2018 that sets out guidelines on how to collect and process personal information from people both within and outside of the continent. “We should develop a trusted AI tool to strengthen the protection of our rights,” she added. “Without guarantees, we can’t have trust. And without trust, we can’t develop AI in the long-run.”
But when it comes to AI and democracy, not all countries feel equally included in the conversation on regulations. Pakistani lawyer and online rights activist Nighat Dad intervened to point out global disparities. “Are our exchanges at this roundtable democratic? Are we talking about the whole world or just the democracies of the Global North?” Dad asked. She founded the Digital Rights Foundation in 2012, an NGO focused on protecting human rights defenders in digital spaces. “Moving forward without diverse voices is unimaginable. All democracies must be able to express themselves.”
Nighat Dad, founder of the Digital Rights Foundation.
Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the OECD, echoed Dad’s remarks when he spoke of the need for “more effective international cooperation on AI”.
“We need a generalised governance framework to help us develop safe AI,” he said. “But right now, we are a long way from that.”
“At this stage, we don’t know exactly where we’re headed when it comes to AI,” Latvian President Rinkevics concluded. “The priority for companies is to reap the benefits [of AI]. And the priority for countries is likely a little different. But in any case, we are a long way from having a global AI agreement.”
Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the OECD.
This article was translated from the original in French by Lara Bullens.
JD Vance warns against 'excessive regulation' of AI at Paris summit
Separately, a high-stakes battle over AI power is escalating in the private sector.
A group of investors led by Musk — who now heads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency — has made a $97.4 billion bid to acquire the nonprofit behind OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, attending the Paris summit, swiftly rejected the offer on X.
In Beijing, officials on Monday condemned Western efforts to restrict access to AI tools, while Chinese company DeepSeek’s new AI chatbot has prompted calls in the U.S. Congress to limit its use over security concerns. China promotes open-source AI, arguing that accessibility will ensure global AI benefits.
French organizers hope the summit will boost investment in Europe’s AI sector, positioning the region as a credible contender in an industry shaped by U.S.-China competition.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the energy demands of AI, contrasted France’s nuclear-powered approach with the U.S.‘s reliance on fossil fuels, quipping: France won't “drill, baby, drill,” but "plug, baby, plug.”
Vance’s diplomatic tour will continue in Germany, where he will attend the Munich Security Conference and press European allies to increase commitments to NATO and Ukraine. He may also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Vance will discuss Ukraine and the Middle East over a working lunch with Macron.
Like Trump, he has questioned U.S. aid to Kyiv and the broader Western strategy toward Russia. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine within six months of taking office.
Vance is also set to meet separately with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
(AP)
THAT MEANS ANY REGULATION IS EXCESSIVE
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned against the “excessive regulation” of AI, which he says could curb the growth of the industry. The U.S., along with Britain, was also noticeably absent from a joint statement signed by more than 60 nations pledging to ensure AI is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.”
Issued on: 11/02/2025
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: Angela DIFFLEY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned against the “excessive regulation” of AI, which he says could curb the growth of the industry. The U.S., along with Britain, was also noticeably absent from a joint statement signed by more than 60 nations pledging to ensure AI is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.”
Issued on: 11/02/2025
By: NEWS WIRES
Video by: Angela DIFFLEY
03:43
US Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris on February 11, 2025. © Michel Euler, AP
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned global leaders and tech industry executives that “excessive regulation” could cripple the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry in a rebuke to European efforts to curb AI’s risks.
The speech underscored a widening, three-way rift over AI.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, champions a hands-off approach to fuel innovation, while Europe is tightening the reins with strict regulations to ensure safety and accountability. Meanwhile, China is rapidly expanding AI through state-backed tech giants, vying for dominance in the global race.
The U.S. was noticeably absent from a joint statement signed by more than 60 nations, pledging to “promote AI accessibility to reduce digital divides” and “ensure AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.”
The agreement also called for “making AI sustainable for people and the planet” and protecting “human rights, gender equality, linguistic diversity, protection of consumers and of intellectual property rights.”
In a surprise, China — long criticized for its human rights record — signed the declaration, leaving the U.S. as the outlier.
Read more‘Sheep for hire’: Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg’s dangerous plan for Europe
At the summit, Vance made his first major policy speech since becoming vice president last month, framing AI as an economic turning point but cautioning that “at this moment, we face the extraordinary prospect of a new industrial revolution, one on par with the invention of the steam engine."
"But it will never come to pass if overregulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball,” Vance added.
The 40-year-old vice president, leveraging the AI summit and a security conference in Munich later this week, is seeking to project Trump’s forceful new style of diplomacy.
The Trump administration will “ensure that AI systems developed in America are free from ideological bias,” Vance said and pledged the U.S. would “never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.”
Vance also took aim at foreign governments for “tightening the screws” on U.S. tech firms, saying such moves were troubling. His remarks underscored the growing divide between Washington and its European allies on AI governance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that, “AI needs the confidence of the people and has to be safe″ and detailed EU guidelines intended to standardize the bloc’s AI Act but acknowledged concerns over regulatory burden.
“At the same time, I know that we have to make it easier and we have to cut red tape and we will,” she added.
Read moreThe global race to build AI computing infrastructure
She also announced that the “InvestAI” initiative had reached a total of €200 billion in AI investments across Europe, including €20 billion dedicated to AI gigafactories.
The summit laid bare competing global AI strategies — Europe pushing to regulate and invest, China expanding AI through state-backed giants, and the U.S. doubling down on an unregulated, free-market approach.
French President Emmanuel Macron positioned Europe as a “third way” in the AI race, one that avoids dependence on major powers like the U.S. and China.
“We want a fair and open access to these innovations for the whole planet,” he said in his closing speech, arguing that the AI sector “needs rules” on a global scale to build public trust and urging greater “international governance.”
Macron also hailed newly announced investments in France and across Europe, underscoring the continent’s ambitions in AI. “We’re in the race,” he said.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, special envoy of Xi Jinping, reinforced Beijing’s intent to shape global AI standards.
Vance, a vocal critic of European content moderation policies, has suggested the U.S. should reconsider its NATO commitments if European governments impose restrictions on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. His Paris visit was also expected to include candid discussions on Ukraine, AI’s role in global power shifts, and U.S.-China tensions.
Concerns over AI’s potential dangers have loomed over the summit, particularly as nations grapple with how to regulate a technology that is increasingly entwined with defense and warfare.
"I think one day we will have to find ways to control AI or else we will lose control of everything,” said Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s commander who oversees the alliance’s modernization efforts.
Beyond diplomatic tensions, a global public-private partnership is being launched called “Current AI,” aimed at supporting large-scale AI initiatives for the public good.
Analysts see this as an opportunity to counterbalance the dominance of private companies in AI development. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. will support such efforts.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned global leaders and tech industry executives that “excessive regulation” could cripple the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry in a rebuke to European efforts to curb AI’s risks.
The speech underscored a widening, three-way rift over AI.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, champions a hands-off approach to fuel innovation, while Europe is tightening the reins with strict regulations to ensure safety and accountability. Meanwhile, China is rapidly expanding AI through state-backed tech giants, vying for dominance in the global race.
The U.S. was noticeably absent from a joint statement signed by more than 60 nations, pledging to “promote AI accessibility to reduce digital divides” and “ensure AI is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.”
The agreement also called for “making AI sustainable for people and the planet” and protecting “human rights, gender equality, linguistic diversity, protection of consumers and of intellectual property rights.”
In a surprise, China — long criticized for its human rights record — signed the declaration, leaving the U.S. as the outlier.
Read more‘Sheep for hire’: Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg’s dangerous plan for Europe
At the summit, Vance made his first major policy speech since becoming vice president last month, framing AI as an economic turning point but cautioning that “at this moment, we face the extraordinary prospect of a new industrial revolution, one on par with the invention of the steam engine."
"But it will never come to pass if overregulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball,” Vance added.
The 40-year-old vice president, leveraging the AI summit and a security conference in Munich later this week, is seeking to project Trump’s forceful new style of diplomacy.
The Trump administration will “ensure that AI systems developed in America are free from ideological bias,” Vance said and pledged the U.S. would “never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.”
Vance also took aim at foreign governments for “tightening the screws” on U.S. tech firms, saying such moves were troubling. His remarks underscored the growing divide between Washington and its European allies on AI governance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that, “AI needs the confidence of the people and has to be safe″ and detailed EU guidelines intended to standardize the bloc’s AI Act but acknowledged concerns over regulatory burden.
“At the same time, I know that we have to make it easier and we have to cut red tape and we will,” she added.
Read moreThe global race to build AI computing infrastructure
She also announced that the “InvestAI” initiative had reached a total of €200 billion in AI investments across Europe, including €20 billion dedicated to AI gigafactories.
The summit laid bare competing global AI strategies — Europe pushing to regulate and invest, China expanding AI through state-backed giants, and the U.S. doubling down on an unregulated, free-market approach.
French President Emmanuel Macron positioned Europe as a “third way” in the AI race, one that avoids dependence on major powers like the U.S. and China.
“We want a fair and open access to these innovations for the whole planet,” he said in his closing speech, arguing that the AI sector “needs rules” on a global scale to build public trust and urging greater “international governance.”
Macron also hailed newly announced investments in France and across Europe, underscoring the continent’s ambitions in AI. “We’re in the race,” he said.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, special envoy of Xi Jinping, reinforced Beijing’s intent to shape global AI standards.
Vance, a vocal critic of European content moderation policies, has suggested the U.S. should reconsider its NATO commitments if European governments impose restrictions on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. His Paris visit was also expected to include candid discussions on Ukraine, AI’s role in global power shifts, and U.S.-China tensions.
Concerns over AI’s potential dangers have loomed over the summit, particularly as nations grapple with how to regulate a technology that is increasingly entwined with defense and warfare.
"I think one day we will have to find ways to control AI or else we will lose control of everything,” said Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s commander who oversees the alliance’s modernization efforts.
Beyond diplomatic tensions, a global public-private partnership is being launched called “Current AI,” aimed at supporting large-scale AI initiatives for the public good.
Analysts see this as an opportunity to counterbalance the dominance of private companies in AI development. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. will support such efforts.
THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24 40:02
Separately, a high-stakes battle over AI power is escalating in the private sector.
A group of investors led by Musk — who now heads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency — has made a $97.4 billion bid to acquire the nonprofit behind OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, attending the Paris summit, swiftly rejected the offer on X.
In Beijing, officials on Monday condemned Western efforts to restrict access to AI tools, while Chinese company DeepSeek’s new AI chatbot has prompted calls in the U.S. Congress to limit its use over security concerns. China promotes open-source AI, arguing that accessibility will ensure global AI benefits.
French organizers hope the summit will boost investment in Europe’s AI sector, positioning the region as a credible contender in an industry shaped by U.S.-China competition.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the energy demands of AI, contrasted France’s nuclear-powered approach with the U.S.‘s reliance on fossil fuels, quipping: France won't “drill, baby, drill,” but "plug, baby, plug.”
Vance’s diplomatic tour will continue in Germany, where he will attend the Munich Security Conference and press European allies to increase commitments to NATO and Ukraine. He may also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Vance will discuss Ukraine and the Middle East over a working lunch with Macron.
Like Trump, he has questioned U.S. aid to Kyiv and the broader Western strategy toward Russia. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine within six months of taking office.
Vance is also set to meet separately with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
(AP)
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