World leaders and top technology executives are gathering in Paris on Monday to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, balancing innovation with regulation amid growing resistance to strict policies that some argue hinder progress.

Unlike previous AI summits in Britain and South Korea, which focused on risks following ChatGPT’s explosive debut in 2022, this event reflects a shift toward a more flexible approach. In the U.S., President Donald Trump is rolling back AI regulations set by his predecessor to boost American competitiveness, putting pressure on EU policymakers to adopt a lighter regulatory touch to keep European tech firms competitive.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit, has emphasized the need for balanced regulation. “There’s a risk in having no rules, but too many rules could also be detrimental,” he told French media on Friday. He hopes the EU’s newly approved AI Act will allow for adaptability, particularly to support European startups.

Diverging global AI strategies are on full display. While the EU finalizes its AI Act and a code of practice, Trump’s deregulation stance is encouraging major U.S. tech firms to invest more aggressively. Meanwhile, China is intensifying competition, with its AI company DeepSeek making waves by freely distributing an advanced human-like reasoning system.

The U.S. AI Safety Institute is notably absent from the summit, signaling a possible shift away from global AI risk management efforts.

High-Profile Attendance

The summit will host key political figures, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, China’s Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Macron is scheduled to meet Guoqing on Monday and Vance on Tuesday, with a plenary session set for February 11.

Tech industry heavyweights, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, will also speak at the event. Executives will join an exclusive dinner with political leaders on Monday.

Beyond regulation, discussions will also cover AI’s energy consumption, its role in developing countries, and sustainability efforts. A non-binding communiqué is in progress.

France’s AI Ambitions

Macron is leveraging the summit to highlight France’s growing AI industry, particularly in open-source AI and clean energy-powered data centers. In a major development, France has secured a deal with the UAE for an AI data center project worth up to $50 billion.

“The world is realizing that European AI players are competitive and developing cutting-edge technology,” said the CEO of Nvidia-backed French startup Mistral, which just launched a new generative AI app.

With global AI competition intensifying, the Paris summit aims to strike a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring responsible development.

                                                                                                         Source: Reuters