PARIS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - All eyes are on Paris next week as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to find common ground with China and nearly 100 other nations on the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
A year after global powers addressed the risks of AI at England’s Bletchley Park, a broader coalition of countries is convening in Paris to explore the practical applications of this technology.
France, keen on advancing its national industry, is hosting the AI Action Summit alongside India on Feb. 10 and 11, focusing on Europe’s strengths such as freely available open-source systems and sustainable energy for data centers.
Key topics include managing workforce challenges, ensuring sovereignty in the global AI market, and potential collaborations.
Top executives from Alphabet, Microsoft, and many other corporations are expected to participate. Additionally, government officials will gather with select CEOs for dinner, with discussions featuring a keynote by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, on Tuesday, according to sources close to the summit.
The outlook for consensus among nations on AI, especially involving the U.S., remains uncertain.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has rescinded former President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI, initiated the process of exiting the Paris Climate Agreement, and faced calls from Congress regarding export controls on AI chips to counter China.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will represent the American delegation.
Negotiations are ongoing for a non-binding agreement on AI governance involving various countries, a development described as significant by insiders at the summit, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The primary focus is on championing the global dialogue on AI, with an emphasis on competitiveness for France and Europe.
Continuing the conversation from past AI summits, safety commitments are paramount, with an intention to explore frameworks for AI policy rather than imposing rigid regulations that could stifle innovation.
An anticipated result of the summit is philanthropic and corporate commitments totaling $500 million initially, escalating to $2.5 billion over five years to support AI projects of public interest worldwide.
Another key area for discussion is tackling the energy consumption challenges posed by AI models. France, as a major provider of clean nuclear energy, aims to align its climate goals with advancements in AI.
The French presidency official highlighted, We will likely make announcements at the summit regarding France's decarbonized energy, which, in conjunction with nuclear capabilities, presents a strategic advantage within the context of data center operations.