AI Action Summit 2025: Vance Advocates for Innovation, Criticizes EU’s AI Safety Regulations

The Grand Palais, with its towering windows and ornate stonework, has seen its share of historical moments in science, art, and technology. This year, the Parisian historical site played host to another: the third AI Action Summit, where global leaders discussed the future of artificial intelligence.

Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two-day event took place from February 10-11.

With more than 1,000 attendees — spanning industry titans, government officials, and NGOs — the summit centered around a few issues: AI and democracy, environmental impact, information manipulation, and cybersecurity.

One question in particular helped set the tone: Are global leaders taking too many precautions as we advance into the next era of AI? The U.S. seems to think so.

Aside from discussions around AI’s future, key announcements from the AI Action Summit 2025 included:

You can see our coverage on the International AI Safety Report here.

Vice President J.D. Vance took the stage on the second day, delivering his first major speech since taking office. Vance drove home one key point: The U.S. isn’t letting regulations slow down its AI advancements, and other nations shouldn’t either.

“Excessive regulations of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off,” Vance said. “The United States of America is the leader in AI, and our administration plans to keep that. The future of AI is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety. It will be won by building.”

Joined onstage during the speech was a panel featuring French President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Now, just because we’re the leader doesn’t mean we want to or need to go it alone,” he said. “But to create that kind of trust, we need international regulatory regimes that foster the creation of AI technology rather than strangle it.”

Not everyone at the summit shared Vance’s enthusiasm. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a global AI governance framework.

“AI is already reshaping our polity, our economy, our security, and even our society,” Modi said. “AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.”

Von der Leyen also rejected the idea that safety and progress are mutually exclusive.

“Because AI needs competition but also collaboration. And AI needs the confidence of people and has to be safe. This is the purpose of the AI Act – to provide for one single set of safety rules across the European Union – 450 million people – instead of 27 different national regulations. And safety is in the interest of business. At the same time, I know, we have to make it easier, we have to cut red tape. And we will,” she said.

With that in mind, von der Leyen announced a total 200 billion euro investment in AI factories and gigafactories — including the European AI Champions Initiative — aimed at boosting Europe’s computing power and infrastructure.

And yet, the divide between nations is glaring.

The new administration has been clear about its stance on AI advancement. The U.S. favors a let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may approach, while the EU is prioritizing safety and governance.

Take the EU’s AI Act, which took effect in 2023 as the foundation of its regulatory framework. The U.S., meanwhile, has no federal equivalent — in fact, it most recently introduced its AI Action Plan, rolling back Biden-era policies that were considered hindrances to progress.

This split became even more obvious when the U.S. and UK refused to sign an international AI governance statement. The agreement pledged to uphold an “open,” “inclusive,” and “ethical” AI framework. It was signed by dozens of nations, including China.

Andrew Dudfield, head of AI at UK-based Full Fact, said this move may have been a mistake.

“By refusing to sign today’s international AI Action Statement, the UK Government risks undercutting its hard-won credibility as a world leader for safe, ethical, and trustworthy AI innovation.”

The UK’s stance is particularly interesting post-Brexit. Since it’s no longer tied to the EU, the country is in a unique position to carve out its own AI future.

China’s willingness to sign the agreement may also come as a surprise. China has been competing with the U.S. as the world leader in AI development, so its support for an international AI framework may be a sign it’s willing to embrace a level of global cooperation.

As for the U.S., government representatives seem confident the country’s own path will forge success.