Correspondence Dan Alexe // "Artificial Intelligence" on both sides of the Atlantic: two visions confront each other without reconciling
In January 2025, Donald Trump announced a plan to invest $500 billion in Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the next four years, in partnership with major IT companies such as Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank. Then, on Tuesday, February 11, after the AI Action summit in Paris, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed a commitment of 200 billion euros to bolster AI investments in Europe. According to von der Leyen, the EU would contribute 50 billion euros, with an additional 150 billion euros from large corporations.
The “Made in EU” statement was released two days after Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that he would invest €109 billion in France over the next few years.
At the Paris summit, US Vice President J.D. Vance cautioned against “over-regulation” of artificial intelligence by the EU, arguing that it could stifle a booming industry. “The United States is a leader in AI, and our administration intends to keep it that way,” Vance stated. He criticized European regulations, claiming they would limit the operational flexibility of American companies, which he deemed “a terrible mistake, detrimental not only to the United States but also to your own countries.”
This stance contrasts with French President Emmanuel Macron's position, who argued for the continued promotion of international governance of artificial intelligence.
The differing transatlantic approaches also explain why the United States and the United Kingdom were not among the first 61 countries to sign the declaration for “open,” “inclusive,” and “ethical” artificial intelligence, published on Tuesday, February 11, after the AI Action Summit in Paris.
The signatories, including China, France, and India (the two co-organizers of the event), called for stronger coordination of AI governance through “global dialogue” and emphasized the need to avoid “market concentration” to ensure that the technology becomes more accessible.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who co-chaired the summit and will host the next edition, highlighted the importance of not leaving the “global south,” which includes India and its 1.4 billion people, behind in this technological revolution.
This perspective significantly differs from that of the United States, which, along with the United Kingdom, is not among the signatories of the final declaration sought by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The British government has made it clear that it only intends to participate in “initiatives that serve the national interest of the United Kingdom.”
As a result, without the United Kingdom and the United States, these 61 countries have agreed to establish an observatory on the energy impact of artificial intelligence, led by the International Energy Agency, as well as a coalition for sustainable AI that aims to bring together leading companies in the sector.
Ultimately, however, the absence of the United States and Great Britain from the list of signatories highlights the divisions on this subject and confirms that the Paris AI Action Summit was a confrontation of two differing worldviews, with no consensus reached.
