United States Vice President JD Vance spoke at the AI Summit in Paris, warning Europe against overregulating the artificial intelligence sector, which he believes could "kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off." He also criticized Europe's Digital Services Act, calling it "onerous international rules" that stifle innovation and create hurdles for American businesses.
Setting out the Trump administration's America First agenda, Vance said the U.S. intended to remain the dominant force in AI and strongly opposed the European Union's far tougher regulatory approach.
"We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry," Vance told the summit of CEOs and heads of state in Paris. "We feel very strongly that AI must remain free from ideological bias and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship."
"Of course, we want to ensure the internet is a safe place, but it is one thing to prevent a predator from preying on a child on the internet, and it is something quite different to prevent a grown man or woman from accessing an opinion that the government thinks is misinformation," he said.
Additionally, Vance cautioned against partnering with "authoritarian regimes" like China, which he accused of using AI for increased control and infiltration through cheap tech like CCTV and 5G equipment.
Vance is leading the American delegation at the Paris summit. He left just after his speech, without listening to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who spoke right after him, or French President Emmanuel Macron, who gave the closing speech. He later met separately with each, for talks.
