After stepping off the debate stage at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, U.S. Senator and Republican vice-presidential hopeful J.D. Vance shared his thoughts with a Fox News correspondent. The event was a Vice Presidential debate against Democratic contender, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, held on October 1, 2024.
Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, Vice President JD Vance made a strong statement on Tuesday about the U.S.’s commitment to protecting its advancements in artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies. He warned against their misuse, especially by those seeking to weaponize such critical innovations.
Vance pointed fingers at authoritarian governments, accusing them of pilfering AI to bolster their military intelligence, enhance surveillance, siphon foreign data, and spread propaganda—moves that he argues threaten global security. "This administration will block such efforts, full stop," he declared. Vance assured that the U.S. will work closely with allies to fortify these technologies against theft and abuse, ensuring that adversaries do not gain threatening AI capabilities.
A hot topic at the summit was China’s AI model, DeepSeek, which has claimed to rival OpenAI’s performance at a significantly reduced cost. Although Vance refrained from naming DeepSeek directly, he criticized the influx of inexpensive, state-subsidized technologies. "We all know about marketplace tech that gets mass-produced and exported by these regimes," Vance noted.
Pointing a cautionary finger towards American allies, Vance emphasized the risks of engaging with companies influenced by authoritarian governments. Such collaborations, he suggested, are akin to "chaining your nation to an oppressive master eager to exploit and access your data infrastructure."
Europe should embrace AI ‘frontier’
Turning his attention to Europe, Vance critiqued the continent’s regulators on Tuesday, claiming they focus too much on safeguarding AI rather than seizing the opportunities it offers. He positioned America as the global "leader" in the AI field and called for Europe to adopt a more positive stance towards the technology than its current approach.
"Being at the forefront doesn’t mean we go it alone," Vance remarked, expressing America’s desire to join hands with European allies in navigating the AI revolution ahead, emphasizing the need for openness and teamwork.
To build the necessary trust for this collaboration, Vance stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks that encourage AI advancement instead of stifling it. He urged European nations to approach this emerging frontier with optimism instead of fear.
In contrast, the European Union has enacted stringent AI regulations, introducing groundbreaking laws to mitigate the technology’s risks. This new AI legislation, enforceable for the first time, includes strict guidelines and severe penalties for violations.
Meanwhile, ECB President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to mobilize a substantial investment fund of 200 billion euros ($206.5 billion) for AI in Europe, asserting that the battle for AI leadership is still open, with neither the U.S. nor China having claimed victory yet.
