The Summit of Action on Artificial Intelligence, held in Paris, aimed to shape the future of AI, acknowledging the risks associated with the technology while ensuring its benefits are accessible to everyone. The event, organized by France and India, brought together business leaders, governments, academics, and the general public. A total of 61 countries signed a statement emphasizing international coordination and market opening.
The United States and the United Kingdom, however, did not sign the final declaration. The US Vice President, J. Vance, in his first public speech since inauguration, stated that the US objective is to maintain its position as a market leader, and thus, it is not interested in opening markets. Vance expressed concerns that excessive regulations could hinder the growth of nascent markets, comparing the emergence of AI to the industrial revolution sparked by the steam engine. He also mentioned the potential impact of regulations on North American companies operating abroad, echoing concerns raised by President Donald Trump regarding the expansion of AI safety to areas such as labor and environmental protection.
The United Kingdom, on the other hand, cited “national interest” as the reason for not signing the statement, with low-level officials participating in the summit.
Formation of the Current Foundation
The Paris Summit led to the creation of the Current Foundation, which aims to promote AI as “innovation with purpose.” The foundation brings together countries, companies, and philanthropists to assess the effects of AI progress on society. Founding members include Google, Huggingface, the John D. and Catherine MacArthur Foundation, and the governments of Germany, Finland, Chile, and Nigeria. The initiative’s initial focus areas include the high energy consumption of AI and the potential for generating green energy to mitigate climate impact, as well as driving innovation in areas related to AI development.
Promoting Accessibility and Inclusion
The summit highlighted Europe’s interest in securing a significant share of the global AI market, currently dominated by the US and China. To achieve this, European countries have announced substantial investments in the sector to enhance their technological capabilities. China, meanwhile, is invested in open-source intelligence, which allows for free access to the technology. This approach is seen as essential for ensuring that AI development is not hindered by ideological conditioning, making accessibility a key factor for all countries to participate in the benefits of AI.
The final statement of the summit encourages countries to work towards a free competition market, without oligopolistic concentration, and to engage in a “multilateral dialogue.” It also emphasizes the importance of permanent innovation, taking into account societal and global commitments to guarantee sustainability.