The AI Action Summit wrapped up in Paris this week, bringing together world leaders, tech experts, and scientists for two days of discussions on AI’s impact on security, the economy, and global governance. Co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit happened as countries like the US and China continue to compete for AI leadership.
Here are our key takeaways – with a view from J Cromack, our Chief Growth Officer, too.
The UK and US haven’t signed an international agreement on AI
The statement signed by 60 countries, including France, China and India, set out an ambition to reduce digital divides by promoting AI accessibility, and ensuring the tech’s development is transparent, safe, secure and trustworthy. The statement also prioritises making AI sustainable for people and the planet.
The UK government said it hadn’t been able to add its name to the agreement because of concerns about national security and global governance.
US Vice President JD Vance told delegates that too much regulation of artificial intelligence could “kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off” and that “pro-growth AI policies” should be prioritised over safety.
€150 billion boost for European AI
A coalition of 20 major companies, startups, and investment firms has pledged a huge €150 billion investment in European AI over the next five years.
Led by venture capital firm General Catalyst, this initiative aims to close the gap between investors and startups to help Europe reach its full AI potential. The group is also working with the European Commission to simplify AI regulations. Big names like Airbus, Siemens, Volkswagen, and Spotify are already on board.
New public interest projects
French President Macron introduced Current AI, a nonprofit foundation backed by an initial $400 million (€387 million) from the French government, industry leaders, and philanthropists. The goal? To improve AI accessibility by investing in open-source tools, expanding dataset access, and measuring AI’s social and environmental impact. So far, 11 European governments, including Germany, Finland, and Switzerland, have signed on.
Another major launch was ROOST (Robust Open Online Safety Tools), which brings together tech leaders to develop and share free, open-source AI safety tools. Plus, six data protection agencies signed an agreement to collaborate on AI regulations and set clear legal standards.
Mistral AI teams up with Helsing
A major partnership was announced between French startup Mistral AI and European defence tech company Helsing. They’re working together on AI-driven defence systems, focusing on smart models that help military platforms better understand their surroundings, communicate with operators, and make faster, more accurate decisions.
Macron’s €109 billion AI push
One of the biggest announcements at the summit was Macron’s €109 billion commitment to boosting France’s AI private sector. This includes a major deal with the UAE to build Europe’s largest data centre campus and an additional €20 billion investment from Canadian firm Brookfield to expand AI infrastructure in France.
Overall, the summit showcased a nice spectrum of perspectives, I thought it was optimistic about AI’s potential benefits and cautionary regarding its risks. However, we need regulation and now! The challenge is what we regulate today, will change tomorrow. We need regulation and a set of guiding ethical principles – which is what the EU AI Act sets out – and its essential the UK and the US do something similar. Otherwise, the businesses that buy these tools may move towards the tech that has been built within a well governed, regulated framework, rather than the Wild West. I know I would certainly opt for buying AI that has been built using a legally binding regulation.
J Cromack, Chief Growth Officer, Salocin Group
