The United Kingdom and the United States of America have declined to sign a declaration on “inclusive and sustainable” artificial intelligence at a landmark summit in Paris, dealing a setback to efforts for a unified global approach to AI development and regulation.
The communique, endorsed by 60 other signatories including France, China, India, Japan, Australia, and Canada, emphasised the importance of ensuring AI is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy, taking into account international frameworks for all” while also making AI “sustainable for people and the planet.”
A UK government spokesperson explained that while Britain agreed with much of the declaration, it did not go far enough in addressing global AI governance and its implications for national security. “We continue to work closely with international partners, as reflected in our signing of agreements on sustainability and cybersecurity at the Paris AI Action summit. However, we felt the declaration lacked practical clarity on global governance and did not sufficiently tackle the complex security challenges posed by AI,” the spokesperson said.
The decision not to sign was confirmed shortly after US Vice President JD Vance took the stage at the Grand Palais, where he criticised Europe’s “excessive regulation” of AI and cautioned against collaboration with China. His remarks were delivered in the presence of leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Asked whether the UK’s decision was influenced by the US, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated they were “not aware of the US’s reasons or position” on the declaration. A government source dismissed suggestions that Britain was aligning itself with Washington’s stance. However, a Labour MP acknowledged the UK’s limited strategic flexibility, noting that if Britain were perceived as too restrictive, major US AI firms might withdraw engagement with the UK government’s AI Safety Institute, a globally respected research body.
The UK’s stance drew criticism from advocacy groups, who warned that it could damage the country’s reputation in AI governance. Starmer did not attend the summit, with UK Tech Secretary Peter Kyle representing Britain at the high-profile gathering.
