More than 60 countries sign AI declaration at Paris summit
Sixty-one countries, including France, China, India, Japan, Australia and Canada, came together at the AI Action Summit in Paris this week to sign a joint declaration emphasising inclusive and sustainable development of artificial intelligence. The declaration highlighted shared priorities such as promoting the accessibility of AI to bridge the digital divide, ensuring transparency, ethics, security and reliability in AI development, preventing market monopolies, fostering international cooperation and encouraging the deployment of AI that positively impacts labour markets.
The summit emphasised the importance of a diverse AI ecosystem and an open, multi-stakeholder approach that prioritises human rights, inclusiveness and ethical considerations.
Although many countries signed the declaration, the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States chose not to participate. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government would only support initiatives that align with the UK’s national interests. During the summit, US Vice President JD Vance argued against excessive regulation of the AI sector, saying it could stifle innovation. He criticised international cooperation with China and regulations seen as threatening to American companies. Vance stressed the importance of preventing AI from being used for authoritarian censorship.
The AI Action Summit follows previous summits in the United Kingdom and South Korea, which focused on AI security threats and international scientific cooperation. In contrast, at this summit, political and industry leaders expressed concern about bureaucratic hurdles while making significant investments in AI infrastructure aimed at rapid technological progress.
The independent fact-checking organisation Full Fact criticised the British government’s decision not to sign the declaration, arguing that it undermines Britain’s reputation as a leader in responsible AI development. They stressed the need for stronger government measures to mitigate the risks of harmful AI-generated disinformation. An AI expert from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, stressed the importance of global ethical standards for AI and called on leading countries to prioritise security and cooperation over geopolitical concerns.
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