Paris, France – United States Vice President JD Vance issued a stark warning against overregulation of the artificial intelligence industry at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on Tuesday. Representing the Trump administration’s stance, Vance cautioned that excessive regulatory measures could stifle innovation in a rapidly evolving sector.
“We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off,” Vance told global leaders and business executives. “And I’d like to see that deregulatory flavor making its way into a lot of the conversations (at) this conference.”
Vance’s comments come in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s repeal of a broad executive order signed by President Joe Biden. The order had been aimed at mitigating national security risks and preventing AI-driven discrimination.
“I’m not here this morning to talk about AI safety,” Vance stated. “I’m here to talk about AI opportunity.”
While AI’s potential benefits are widely acknowledged, concerns persist regarding its risks. AI-generated deepfake content, for example, poses significant threats to election integrity and personal privacy. Additionally, experts warn that AI-driven crime, autonomous weapons, and loss of human oversight over advanced AI models could have grave consequences. A report commissioned by the US State Department in March identified “catastrophic” national security risks posed by unregulated AI technology.
‘Lightning in a Bottle’
Despite acknowledging concerns, Vance emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to fostering innovation. “But focus matters, and we must focus now on the opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle, unleash our most brilliant innovators and use AI to improve the well-being of our nations and their peoples with great confidence,” he said.
As part of its AI strategy, the US government plans to integrate AI education into schools, teaching students “how to manage, how to supervise and how to interact” with AI-driven tools.
Vance also critiqued the European Union’s regulatory approach, arguing that stringent laws could suppress AI’s potential. The EU’s AI Act, which bans certain biometric-based tools and enforces strict oversight over high-risk AI applications, stands in stark contrast to the US government’s deregulatory push.
Prioritizing American AI Development
Reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment to maintaining the US’s AI dominance, Vance stated that the government would ensure AI development remains domestic. “To safeguard America’s advantage,” he said, “we will ensure that the most powerful AI systems are built in the US with American-designed and manufactured chips.”
He also stressed that AI systems developed in the United States would remain free from “ideological bias” and would never infringe upon free speech rights.
As AI continues to transform industries and societies, the debate over regulation versus innovation remains a key issue among global policymakers. The Trump administration’s stance signals a strong push toward economic and technological competitiveness, with a clear emphasis on minimizing government intervention.
