Paris AI Action Summit – A Fractured Vision for Global AI Governance

In February 2025, the AI Action Summit in Paris convened over 100 national representatives, policymakers, and technology leaders to forge a collective vision for the future of artificial intelligence. The summit culminated in a landmark document titled "Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet," endorsed by 58 countries including France, China, and India.

The statement emphasized principles such as equitable AI access, transparency in deployment, the protection of human rights, and collaborative international frameworks. It framed AI as both an opportunity and a responsibility shared across borders, urging a global standard to ensure innovation aligns with democratic and ethical values.

However, unity proved elusive. Both the United States and the United Kingdom declined to sign the declaration, signaling deep geopolitical divides in the governance of emerging technologies. The UK government voiced concerns that the document lacked adequate attention to national security risks and global power asymmetries, while U.S. officials emphasized maintaining technological leadership through a more flexible, innovation-driven policy.

This divergence suggests a fragmented global regulatory landscape, where AI's transformative power may evolve under competing visions—raising critical questions about coordination, safety, and global equity in the AI age.