Vance Criticizes AI Regulation in Europe, Warns Against Chinese Influence
PARIS:
U.S. Vice President JD Vance cautioned European allies on Tuesday against imposing excessive regulations on the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, arguing that overreach could hinder innovation. He also issued a stark warning to China, accusing it of leveraging AI to strengthen authoritarian control.
Speaking at a global AI summit in Paris, where world leaders gathered to discuss the future of the technology, Vance’s remarks disrupted the unity France had sought to establish.
The summit resulted in a joint statement signed by dozens of countries advocating for AI to be “open,” “ethical,” and regulated to ensure responsible use. However, the United States and the United Kingdom notably refrained from endorsing the agreement.
Vance urged Europe to embrace AI with “optimism rather than fear,” cautioning that excessive regulation could stifle a rapidly evolving industry. His comments contrasted with those of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stressed the need for international collaboration to establish governance standards and ethical AI practices.
Macron, who co-hosted the summit with Modi, countered Vance’s stance, emphasizing that global regulations were crucial for AI’s sustainable development.
Among the 60 signatory nations, key players such as France, Germany, India, and China supported an agreement prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and ethical AI use under global frameworks. The declaration also highlighted the importance of AI being “sustainable for people and the planet.”
However, Montenegro and a duplicate mention of Sweden were later removed from the final list of signatories. Neither the U.S. nor the U.K. endorsed the agreement, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stating that the U.K. would only back policies aligned with its national interests.
Dario Amodei, CEO of AI firm Anthropic, criticized the summit as a “missed opportunity” to ensure democratic nations lead AI development while addressing potential risks.
Vance also took aim at China, asserting that authoritarian regimes sought to use AI to expand surveillance and control. He warned against partnerships with such governments, suggesting that doing so could expose nations to security risks.
His remarks followed concerns over Chinese AI advancements, particularly after startup DeepSeek introduced an advanced chatbot reportedly developed with limited funding. Security fears have led several countries to ban AI-related Chinese technologies from government use.
Vance further criticized China’s sale of surveillance and 5G technology, claiming it allowed authoritarian states to infiltrate foreign information infrastructure.
In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to mobilize €200 billion ($206 billion) for AI investments in Europe, with €50 billion coming from the EU budget and the rest sourced from private sector contributions.
Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch highlighted Europe’s growing momentum in AI, describing the summit as a turning point for the continent’s tech industry.
The event also coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of €109 billion in AI investments and the U.S.’s $500 billion “Stargate” AI initiative, spearheaded by OpenAI.
Meanwhile, a consortium led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has reportedly made a near $100 billion offer to acquire OpenAI, according to The Wall Street Journal. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dismissed speculation, stating that the company was “not for sale.”
