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JD Vance Stands Firm: United States Declines Participation in Global Agreement on Artificial Intelligence

Vice President JD Vance articulated that regulatory measures could potentially eliminate an innovative sector.

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JD Vance Stands Firm: United States Declines Participation in Global Agreement on Artificial Intelligence

The United States and the UK have chosen to sidestep two significant global agreements designed to protect the global community: the Paris Climate Accords, which the Trump administration has bailed out of twice, and the declaration that emerged from the Paris AI Action Summit, encouraging inclusive, open, ethical, sustainable, and secure AI development. Consider this a GDPR-free zone, right?

Numerous governments and international bodies, such as the European Union, China, and India, put their marks on this declaration - except for the US and the UK, who remained indecisive. As reported in Politico, the UK was the first to make its intentions known on Monday, declining to sign without providing any concrete reasons.

The US, on the other hand, was quite vocal about its reasoning. In his inaugural international address, Vice-President JD Vance gave the world a blunt message; if they expected the US to behave responsibly with AI development, they should take a hike. Vance slammed the declaration as a sprawling set of regulations that amounted to nothing more than authoritarian censorship, as reported by Reuters.

Vance's main issue was the belief that excessive regulation of the AI sector could hamper a burgeoning industry before it even had time to find its feet. According to him, trying to foster safe growth with guidelines would merely serve as an obstacle in the path of profits, a roadblock that simply had to be removed.

Vance declared that not only would the US reject this global accord, but it would actively cultivate the most sophisticated AI systems, built with American components. While stating that they wouldn’t be alone, he made it clear that cooperation was a two-way street - anyone else wanting to hop on board had better drop these "inclusive and sustainable" aspirations.

It appears that at least part of the conflict stems from tensions with China, which did sign the agreement. During his speech, Vance sounded the alarm, warning about cheap technology that had been heavily subsidized and exported by authoritarian regimes. In effect, partnering with them would bind your nation to an authoritarian overlord that was eager to burrow its way into your information infrastructure.

While the rest of the world seemed unsurprised by the US's decision to withhold its signature, they expressed their disappointment. French President Emmanuel Macron still signed the agreement, but he also announced plans to simplify AI investment and development regulations to keep up with the pace of innovation. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also emphasized the importance of reducing bureaucracy and increasing investments in AI.

This attitude reflects a wider trend already prevalent in the AI industry. The debut of ChatGPT, for instance, was less about safety assurances and more about rushing to reach the market. By opting out of the AI Action Summit agreement, the Trump administration seems to be signaling a similar approach for the industry - prioritize speed over safety, potential consequences be damned.

Relevant Insights

  1. The UK government had reservations due to the declaration's lack of clarity on global governance, national security, and the challenge AI presents.
  2. J.D. Vance criticized Europe's regulatory approach to AI, expressing concern over aligning too closely with China on technology matters.
  3. Some in the tech industry worry that heavy-handed oversight could slow down technological progress.
  4. The US and UK may seek alternative frameworks for AI governance that align with their national interests.
  5. The absence of major AI powers like the US and UK from the declaration may encourage China to take a more prominent role in shaping AI governance.

References:[1] Bernstein, E. M. (2023, March 6). U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance: America won't join Paris AI agreement. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/technology/us-vice-president-vance-america-wont-join-paris-ai-agreement-2023-03-05/[2] Vance, J. D. (2023, March 6). Stand with America, not authoritarian AI. Politico. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/em-axios-logic/2023/03/06/vance-us-ai-00093854[3] Elliott, E. (2023, March 6). The AI dream is still unfolding, and no one seems worried about its potential dangers. Yale University (n.d.). https://news.yale.edu/2023/03/ai-dream-shaping-up-no-one-seems-worried-about-its-potential-dangers[4] Jackson, E. (2023, March 6). US and UK won't sign AI governance agreement. TechTarget (n.d.). https://searchcio-uk.techtarget.com/news/272503443/US-and-UK-won-t-sign-AI-governance-agreement[5] Callaway, B. (2023, March 6). US and UK reject AI ethics pact aimed at avoiding tech wars. Nature (n.d.). https

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Despite the US and UK's absence, numerous countries, including the EU, China, and India, signed the Paris AI Action Summit declaration advocating for responsible AI development. However, US Vice-President JD Vance criticized this agreement, stating that excessive regulation could hinder the AI industry's growth and instead advocated for the cultivation of advanced AI systems using American technology. This support for tech freedom and cautious approach towards regulation seems to be a prevailing sentiment in the US AI industry.

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