YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The United States and United Kingdom declined to sign an AI ethics agreement at a global summit in Paris. The agreement aimed to establish AI regulation standards for ethical, safe, and inclusive development. More than 60 countries signed the proposal, but the US and UK raised concerns about its approach to AI governance.
US Vice President JD Vance criticized the agreement, arguing that excessive AI regulation could harm the AI industry. The UK government also cited differences in AI policy, noting that the agreement did not align with the UK AI summit held in 2023, according to Reuters.
AI Summit Brings Together Over 100 Nations
The AI summit in Paris on Feb. 10–11 gathered officials from over 100 countries, including government leaders, academics, and researchers. Discussions focused on AI governance, AI safety, ethical AI development, labor market impact, and global AI rules.
The final statement called for a public-interest AI platform and a network of observatories to study AI’s impact on jobs and workplaces. While most countries signed, the US and UK did not support the agreement.
US AI Policy Prioritizes Innovation Over AI Regulation
At the summit, JD Vance warned that restricting AI development could hinder a growing industry.
“We believe that excessive AI regulation could kill a transformative industry just as it is taking off,”
he said.
He also rejected content moderation policies, calling them “authoritarian censorship.” The US AI policy focuses on AI industry growth over regulatory measures.
Shift in US AI Governance Strategy
Russell Wald from Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI noted that the US position signals a policy shift.
“Safety is not going to be the primary focus, but instead, it’s going to be accelerated innovation,”
he told Reuters on Feb. 11.
The US AI stance differs from the European Union’s AI Act, which took effect in August 2023. The EU AI rules introduced a strict AI governance framework, regulating high-risk AI models.
Trump Administration Reverses Biden’s AI Policies
Under Joe Biden, the US signed the Framework Convention on AI with the EU, UK, and other nations in September 2023. The treaty addressed AI governance and human rights protections in AI development.
After taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump repealed the Biden AI executive order, which had established oversight for AI companies. The Trump administration removed these reporting requirements.
The US and UK stance on the AI ethics agreement highlights differences in global AI rules. The EU prioritizes AI safety and governance, while the US AI policy supports minimal restrictions to encourage AI industry growth.
