The AI Summit held in Paris this month was expected to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. However, it quickly became a sobering reminder of how national rivalries and conflicting regulatory frameworks are undermining the urgent need for global cooperation on AI safety.

The day before the Summit, I attended the International Conference of the IASEAI, where the first-ever International AI Safety Report was unveiled. This groundbreaking report addressed the existential risks posed by advanced AI systems. Motivated by its findings, I wrote an article arguing that while the AI Summit Series had established a strong foundation, its long-term success hinged on overcoming structural and institutional challenges in AI governance. I stressed that AI safety must be the central focus of global discussions.

Yet, at the Paris Summit, the International AI Safety Report was sidelined, treated as little more than an afterthought. This was a missed opportunity to elevate AI safety to the global stage. Unlike the UK’s AI Safety Summit in 2023, where existential risks and safety concerns were rigorously debated, Paris marked a decline in prioritizing these critical issues. Instead, the summit became a platform for geopolitical posturing, with nations fixated on the AI race rather than collaborative solutions.

The National Mindset: A Barrier to Progress

One of the greatest obstacles to global AI governance is the mindset of national sovereignty. While pride in one’s country is natural, the “my country first” mentality often impedes collective progress. History shows that transformative periods—such as the Renaissance or the digital revolution—were fueled by the free flow of ideas and universal protections of human rights. Yet, at the Paris Summit, this spirit of collaboration was conspicuously absent.

U.S. Vice President Vance epitomized this nationalistic approach, cautioning against excessive regulation and criticizing the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and GDPR as “authoritarian censorship.” He labeled these regulations a “terrible mistake” and emphasized the U.S.’s “open regulatory environment,” which he argued fosters innovation. Vance made it clear that the U.S. would not participate in shared AI regulation with Europe, further deepening the transatlantic divide.

In response, EU President Ursula von der Leyen pledged an additional €50 billion in AI investment, complementing €150 billion from the private sector. While this public-private partnership aims to develop European AI champions, Europe must first address its fragmented single market, including the lack of a unified capital market and banking union, to retain investments and compete globally.

EU Tech Commissioner Virkkunen acknowledged the need to reduce bureaucracy and streamline regulations, signaling a potential shift in the EU’s approach. However, the withdrawal of the AI Liability Directive poses significant risks, leaving consumers vulnerable to AI-related harms and creating legal uncertainty that could deter investment. Without a comprehensive impact assessment of the costs of non-regulation, Europe risks falling further behind.

Open-Source AI and Geopolitical Rivalries

The Paris Summit also highlighted the growing potential of open-source AI models, championed by China, India, and Europe. The concept of digital public goods gained momentum, reflecting a global shift toward inclusive and collaborative AI development. Yet, the race for AI supremacy remains fiercely competitive, with the U.S. and China leading the charge.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing emphasized China’s commitment to global collaboration on AI security and innovation, positioning the country as a leader in shared technological progress. This stands in stark contrast to the U.S.’s warnings to European allies about the dangers of over-reliance on autocratic states for critical AI technologies.

The divide was further underscored when Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to U.S. Vice President Vance’s accusations that authoritarian regimes exploit AI to control citizens and flood markets with subsidized technology. Guo reiterated China’s commitment to open-source AI and inclusive development, opposing the politicization of trade and technology.

A Fragmented Global AI Landscape

The summit concluded with 59 countries and the EU signing a declaration to promote open, inclusive, ethical, and secure AI. Notably, China and India endorsed the declaration, while the U.S. and the UK abstained, citing insufficient attention to global governance and national security concerns. Despite this milestone, the summit lacked concrete governance proposals, with the most tangible outcome being the launch of a Public Interest AI platform.

Europe’s challenges were laid bare at the summit. Despite its emphasis on ethical AI, Europe lags behind the U.S. and China in AI investments and advancements. Germany has taken proactive steps, committing €8 billion to AI research and development, but funding alone will not secure Europe’s leadership. To compete, Europe must foster an environment that encourages cutting-edge research, supports entrepreneurial innovation, and facilitates collaboration between academia and industry.

France, meanwhile, is making bold strides, with President Macron announcing plans to secure €109 billion in AI investments. Home to world-class research hubs and innovative startups like Mistral AI, France has the potential to become a global AI leader. However, bureaucratic hurdles and delays in infrastructure development could hinder progress.

The Path Forward

The Paris Summit underscored the stark contrasts in global approaches to AI regulation and the geopolitical tensions shaping the future of AI development. While the U.S. and China dominate AI innovation, Europe’s stringent regulatory environment threatens to relegate it to a secondary role. To stay competitive, Europe must embrace bold regulatory reforms and make strategic investments in cutting-edge AI technologies.

As Pope Francis aptly noted, the advancement of AI must be accompanied by a growth in “human responsibility, values, and conscience.” The true measure of progress in AI will be whether it promotes human dignity, fosters ethical considerations, and enhances our awareness of its potential risks and benefits.

The choices made today will determine the trajectory of AI development and shape the balance of power in the decades to come. Without decisive action, Europe risks falling further behind in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The way forward requires not only a clear vision but also the resolve to act decisively, ensuring that AI is used safely and ethically for the good of all. Only then can we hope to shape a future where technology complements and enriches our shared humanity.