Paris AI Action Summit ends with US and UK refusing to sign declaration

The AI Action Summit took place in Paris on 10 and 11 February 2025, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It followed earlier gatherings at Bletchley Park in the UK (2023) and Seoul (2024), but shifted its emphasis from safety risks towards innovation, public-interest uses and investment.

At its close, around 60 countries, including China, India and France, signed a declaration on inclusive and sustainable artificial intelligence. The text called for AI that is open, ethical and accessible, and for cooperation on issues such as energy use and the effect on jobs.

The United States and the United Kingdom did not sign. US Vice President JD Vance told delegates that excessive regulation could stifle a fast-growing industry, and Washington signalled it favoured a lighter approach. The UK government said the declaration did not give enough practical clarity on global governance or address national security concerns.

The split mattered because it exposed a widening gap between the European-led push for shared rules and a US administration prioritising competitiveness. It also showed that the safety-focused consensus built at Bletchley Park was weakening. Macron used the event to promote French and European AI investment, announcing large private funding commitments.