The European Union is considering a lighter-touch approach to artificial intelligence regulation amid pressure from the United States, which has torn up its predecessor’s AI policy in an effort to boost competitiveness.
France hopes that world leaders and tech executives at an upcoming summit will agree on an inclusive and sustainable approach to AI. The country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said there was a risk of “too many rules” stifling innovation, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned against over-regulation.
In contrast, US Vice President JD Vance is set to outline the United States’ views at the summit, potentially pushing for more leniency. European lawmakers have already approved the bloc’s AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive set of rules governing the technology.
A new partnership called Current AI aims to spearhead public-interest projects in AI development, with an initial $400 million in investment. French President Macron announced significant private sector investments during the summit, totaling 109 billion euros ($113 billion).
However, not everyone is optimistic about the EU’s approach. Data and Society policy director Brian Chen warned that pressure from the US could lead to weakened protections. Labour leaders expressed concerns over the impact of AI on workers.
Top executives, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI’s Altman, are also attending the summit, as well as top politicians from China and other countries. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/paris-ai-summit-draws-world-leaders-ceos-eager-technology-wave-2025-02-10