The UK and the US have opted out of signing an international declaration on AI during the AI Action Summit in Paris. Over 60 countries, including France, China, and India, endorsed the agreement, which outlines principles for AI development focused on openness, inclusivity, transparency, and ethical governance.
The declaration sets out commitments to reduce global digital divides, promote safe and secure AI systems, and address sustainability challenges linked to AI infrastructure. It also marks the first time AI’s energy consumption has been formally discussed at an international forum, reflecting concerns that the technology’s energy demands could eventually rival those of small countries.
The UK cited concerns about national security and insufficient clarity around global governance frameworks as the basis for its decision. “We felt the declaration didn’t provide enough practical clarity on global governance, nor sufficiently address harder questions around national security and the challenge AI poses to it,” said a government spokesperson. Despite this, the UK signed other agreements at the summit focused on sustainability and cybersecurity.
The US adopted a similar stance. Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the summit, emphasised the administration’s focus on maintaining AI’s growth trajectory, warning that excessive regulation could hinder technological progress. “AI is an opportunity that the Trump administration will not squander,” Vance said. He highlighted the importance of “pro-growth AI policies” to support the industry’s development.
However, Vance’s assertion that other jurisdictions were pursuing policies inimical to the fruitful development of AI was greeted with consternation by the Center for Democracy and Technology. “The Vice President emphasized that AI can improve our well-being as nations and as individuals,” said the think tank’s president and chief executive, Alexandra Reeve Givens. “That’s simply not possible without basic safeguards and accountability. When AI is being used to determine who gets a job, who gets a loan, who gets access to government services, the stakes are too high to shrug off the risks.”
Reactions to the UK’s decision, too, have proven mixed. “This revelation from the Summit emphasises how challenging implementing global regulations can be,” said Commvault Field CTO Darren Thomson. “But without robust regulatory frameworks, we risk building AI capabilities on unstable foundations. While the drive for AI innovation is commendable, we must ensure it doesn’t come at the expense of security and reliability.”
However, the decision was supported by AI trade association UKAI. Tim Flagg, UKAI’s chief executive, said that the government’s position reflects a balanced approach to managing the competing demands of AI development and resource consumption. “While UKAI agrees that being environmentally responsible is important, we question how to balance this responsibility with the growing needs of the AI industry for more energy,” Flagg said.
The UK government, meanwhile, rejected claims that its decision was influenced by US policy, asserting that it was based on domestic priorities. “This isn’t about the US, this is about our own national interest, ensuring the balance between opportunity and security,” a government spokesperson said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the summit, reinforced the need for regulatory frameworks to manage AI’s risks and challenges. “We need these rules for AI to move forward,” Macron said, underlining the importance of international cooperation in shaping AI governance.
European Union launches €200bn InvestAI initiative
The summit also featured a major announcement from the European Commission. President Ursula von der Leyen introduced InvestAI, an initiative aimed at mobilising €200bn for AI-related investments across Europe. This total includes €150bn pledged through the European AI Champions Initiative from providers, investors, and industry, alongside an additional €50bn in public funding from the European Commission to support AI development.
As part of this initiative, a dedicated €20bn fund will be allocated to establish four AI gigafactories designed to support the development of large-scale AI models for industrial and scientific applications. These gigafactories will be equipped with approximately 100,000 advanced AI chips, significantly expanding Europe’s AI infrastructure capacity.
The InvestAI programme will be supported through funding from Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme, with a focus on mission-critical AI applications and industrial development. This combined public-private partnership represents the largest AI investment framework in Europe to date.
Read more: European companies launch AI initiative backed by €150bn in investor commitments
