The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris has concluded with a joint declaration signed by 61 countries, but the United States and the United Kingdom have refused to participate, citing concerns over ideological bias and authoritarian censorship. The declaration, which focuses on ensuring AI is "open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy," also calls for greater collaboration on AI governance and a "global dialogue."

Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, expressed the US's concerns in a speech during the summit's closing ceremony, stating that "AI must remain free from ideological bias and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship." Vance also emphasized the US's leadership in AI, saying that the administration plans to keep it that way. The UK's refusal to sign the declaration is seen as a sign of its alignment with the US on this issue.

The declaration's lack of ambition has been met with disappointment by some. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, stated that "at the next international summit, we should not repeat this missed opportunity" and that "the advance of AI presents major new global challenges. We must move faster and with greater clarity to confront them." Despite this, more countries may still sign the declaration in the hours following the event.

The summit also saw discussions on the need for lighter regulation of AI. EU President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of simplifying interactions across the EU's Member States, citing the AI Act's goal of providing a single set of safe rules across the European Union. French President Emmanuel Macron also urged Europe to simplify its regulations to get back into the AI race, warning against the "risk-opportunity dilemma" and the need for regulation that could block innovation.

However, Macron also defended the need for international governance on artificial intelligence, arguing that "we need these rules for artificial intelligence to move forward" and that it's not about "thwarting innovation, it's about enabling [innovation] to happen at an international level while avoiding fragmentation." This highlights the delicate balance between promoting innovation and ensuring responsible development of AI.

The US's refusal to sign the declaration is seen as a matter of diplomatic principle, following its withdrawal from several international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement, during Donald Trump's second presidency. The AI Summit consensus can now be added to that list, underscoring the challenges of reaching a global consensus on AI governance in the current geopolitical context.

The outcome of the Paris summit serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in developing a unified approach to AI governance. As the technology continues to advance and its impact on society grows, the need for international cooperation and responsible development becomes increasingly pressing. The question remains: can the global community come together to address the challenges posed by AI, or will national interests and ideological differences continue to hinder progress?