Paris, February 10-11 - In the past two days, Paris has become the stage for artificial intelligence on the occasion of the AI Action Summit. The event gathered global leaders, tech executives, and policymakers to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and its integration into various sectors. The Summit aimed to foster international collaboration on AI development, focusing on ethical, inclusive, and sustainable practices. Notable attendees included French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, alongside industry leaders like Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
A significant outcome of the summit was the endorsement of a declaration by 60 countries emphasizing the need for AI to be “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.” However, both the United States and the United Kingdom declined to sign this declaration, expressing concerns over potential overregulation and its implications for innovation. U.S. Vice President Vance criticized Europe’s regulatory approach, advocating for focusing on AI’s opportunities rather than risks.
On the summit's first day, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €109 billion investment pledge to strengthen France's AI sector in the coming years. The financing, unveiled during the event, includes a €20 billion commitment from Canadian investment firm Brookfield for AI projects in France, along with potential funding of up to €50 billion from the United Arab Emirates in the years ahead. This strategic investment aims to position France as a global leader in AI innovation and development.
President von der Leyen also revealed that the European Commission aims to mobilise a substantial boost in AI investment in Europe, pledging an additional €50 billion, bringing the total to €200 billion from providers, investors, and industry.
“Computational power requires immediate substantial financial capital from both public and private. (...) We will have focus on industrial and mission-critical applications. It will be the largest public-private partnership in the world for the development of trustworthy AI.”
Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President
In addition, von der Leyen highlighted Europe’s ambition to be a leading continent in AI, highlighting the importance of collaborative and open-source solutions. The EU executive announced that €20 billion of the €50 billion in EU funding will be allocated to construct four AI gigafactories across the 27-member bloc, complementing the seven factories announced last December.
Following the summit, several initiatives are set to advance the global AI agenda. Working groups will be established to develop AI governance frameworks, promote responsible adoption, and ensure that AI benefits are widely accessible. These efforts aim to balance innovation with ethical considerations, ensuring that AI serves as a force for good in society.