Vance’s Stance on AI Ideology

Vice President JD Vance emphasized the importance of ensuring that U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) systems remain free from “ideological bias” during his address at the AI Action Summit held in Paris on Tuesday. He also raised concerns about collaborating with “hostile foreign adversaries” on AI technologies.

A Global Platform for AI Policy

Vance’s participation in the summit marks his inaugural foreign visit as Vice President, bringing together world leaders, influential tech executives, and policymakers to discuss tech policy and its potential impacts on global security, economics, and governance. While the Trump administration has signaled a tendency toward deregulating AI, Vance’s comments at the summit come amid the European Union’s push for stricter regulations aimed at increasing safety standards in the tech sector.

U.S. and U.K. Abstain from Key Agreement

Notably, the United States and the United Kingdom refrained from endorsing an international declaration at the conference that was signed by 60 other countries. This declaration emphasizes the importance of ensuring that AI systems are “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.” The reasons behind the non-signature by the U.S. and U.K. remain unclear.

Call for Free Speech in AI

Among Vance’s key messages was a commitment to maintaining the integrity of AI systems developed in the U.S. He asserted that these systems should remain free of “ideological bias”, pledging that the U.S. would “never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.” Vance expressed his confidence in the American public’s ability to form their own opinions through an “open marketplace of ideas.”

Advocating for Deregulation

Vance also called for a “deregulatory flavor” at the summit, warning against the dangers of overregulating the burgeoning AI industry. He articulated that “excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off.” The Vice President expressed his ambition for pro-growth AI policies to dominate discussions at the conference.

International Relations and AI

Alongside Vance, notable international figures in attendance included French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Shri Modi, and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing. Vance issued a stark reminder to foreign governments that any attempt to impose restrictions on U.S. tech companies with global operations would be met with resistance from the Trump administration.

“I would also remind our international friends here today that partnering with such regimes — it never pays off in the long term,” Vance warned. His comments underscored the potential dangers of cooperating with foreign adversaries who have utilized AI technologies to manipulate information, monitor individuals, and restrict freedom of expression.

Macron’s Vision for AI Governance

While advocating for U.S. partnerships in AI advancement, Vance faced a different stance from Macron, who proposed a “third way” approach for AI innovation in Europe that does not solely rely on either the U.S. or China. Macron emphasized the necessity for enhanced “international governance” on AI policy, declaring that “we want fair and open access to these innovations for the whole planet.”

Trump Administration’s Commitment to AI

Vance’s remarks align with the Trump administration’s broader commitment to AI advancement. Earlier this year, Trump announced a landmark 0 billion AI infrastructure initiative dubbed Stargate. This venture, in collaboration with investment holding company Softbank and tech giants OpenAI and Oracle, aims to establish significant data centers across the U.S., with an initial investment of 0 billion projected to escalate to 0 billion during Trump’s presidency. The project is heralded as the “largest AI infrastructure project in history.”