Vance tells European leaders to focus on ‘opportunity’ of AI, not authoritarian censorship

In his first policy speech of the Trump administration, U.S. Vice President JD Vance called artificial intelligence (AI) the “opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle,” and warned about its overregulation.

He called AI a “new industrial revolution,” and compared it to the “invention of the steam engine or Bessemer steel” in its ability to transform society and economies.

Vance made the comments while appearing at the European AI Summit taking place in Paris, where leaders worldwide are meeting to discuss AI safety.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the speech marks a widening three-way rift between Europe, the U.S. and China on AI. 

Europe is taking a regulated approach, contending AI is dangerous and must be highly regulated, while China is taking an opportunistic approach, using state-backed ventures to rapidly develop the technology, said the AP.  

In a 15-minute speech, Vance laid out a “worker-first approach” that seeks to “empower workers” to become more productive with the use of AI and warned European leaders specifically about overregulation. 

Vance also emphasized that energy production must be expanded to support AI development. 

“I believe it will help us create and store new modes of power in the future, but right now, AI cannot take off unless the world builds the energy infrastructure to support it,” said Vance, taking a dig at Europe’s problem in producing enough energy for its own use because of overregulation. 

Vance outlined four principles that will guide the Trump administration in its AI policy:

“Number one, this administration will ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide,” while inviting partners all over the world to expand the use of AI with American help. 

Vance said that too much regulation, especially at the outset, “could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off” and promised pro-growth policies for AI in the U.S.  

He said that AI must be “free from ideological bias,” and warned that the technology must not be allowed to support “authoritarian censorship.” 

“Some authoritarian regimes have stolen and used AI to strengthen their military intelligence and surveillance capabilities, capturing foreign data and creating propaganda to undermine other nations’ national security,” warned Vance, in a clear reference to China. 

He promised the U.S. would actively oppose such abuses. 

Finally, the vice president said that under the Trump administration, the development of AI in the U.S. would “maintain a pro-worker growth path… so it can be a potent tool for job creation in the United States.” 

“AI, I really believe, will facilitate and make people more productive,” Vance told the European leaders. “It is not going to replace human beings. It will never replace human beings. And I think too many of the leaders in the AI industry, when they talk about this fear of replacing workers, I think they really missed the point. AI, we believe, is going to make us more productive, more prosperous and more free.” 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-hosted the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, reported Voice of America. 

Also attending were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  

One analyst cautioned that people shouldn’t expect any agreements coming from the summit, given that European AI governance includes a number of progressive social constructs such as climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion – concepts Trump has rejected by executive order. 

“They’ve widened the scope to talk about the future of work and the environment and inclusivity and so on – a whole range of concepts,” Nick Reiners, senior geotechnology analyst at the Eurasia Group, told the AP. “So, it’s hard to imagine getting a widespread agreement on such a broad range of subjects.” 

Previously, the Biden administration issued an executive order that put the U.S. on a path towards AI regulation closer to the European model.   

President Trump rescinded that order on Jan. 23, with an order aimed at enhancing U.S. AI leadership.