Paris AI Summit Day One
Paris AI Summit Day One Cycling back from the Grand Palais, Paris’s streets were gridlocked thanks to road closures caused by the AI Summit. The disruption, attendees joked, was mimicking what’s to come with AI.But as Faculty’s Marc Warner told the Tony Blair Institute, ‘deals will be done here’ because the summit has, with a much wider remit than the Bletchley original, become the centre of AI hype and a genuine gathering point for the whole industry.What it hasn’t done, however, is covered the cracks in divergent international positions.Here are five questions people are asking themselves: Can Europe establish itself as the AI superpower it ought to be? Success stories such as Mistral are the exception, and will the major new investments announced here turn out to really be new money? Summit sources are briefing that who signs the final communique doesn’t matter, because of important announcements on monitoring the impact of AI via new observatories, and on commitments to open source. Is that just what they have to say with the US and the UK unlikely to sign it? Which is the biggest elephant in the room – the likelihood of AGI in 3-5 years, the impact of AI on energy use, or the challenges some maintain could come from AI destroying humanity? All of these are getting relatively little attention compared to expectations. With policymakers inevitably reacting rather than leading the AI revolution, what is the best course to try to take? Attracting investment and focusing on skills feels like the only option, but neither is likely to be sufficient for countries currently lagging. What’s the best way to encourage adoption? Literacy, identifying game-changing data sets and also working out how to reshape tasks so AI is most useful – all of these have interesting roles to play, but nobody has neat answers here in Paris. Tomorrow, JD Vance and other political leaders will make the weather – hopefully an improvement on the metaphorical and literal cold rain here so far.
Regulating AI in the UK – Report Published
UKAI publishes the ‘Regulating AI in the UK’ report UKAI has issued a bold call to government for the artificial intelligence economy in the UK, urging immediate regulatory clarity to secure the UK’s position as a global leader in AI innovation. As the UK’s only AI trade association representing the whole AI economy, a new report warns that ambiguity around AI regulations is eroding business confidence, stifling investment, and holding back transformative services for customers across the UK. In a high-profile roundtable at the House of Lords, UKAI convened an influential mix of leaders from tech giants, startups, consumer brands, academia, and investors to chart a path for AI’s role in economic growth and social progress. The discussions revealed an urgent need for a regulatory framework that blends innovation-friendly policies with robust safeguards, striking a balance between the EU’s stringent rules and the US’s laissez-faire approach. “Burdening the AI sector with overregulation, underinvestment, or fear of the unknown isn’t just a missed opportunity – it’s a direct threat to Britain’s competitiveness on the global stage,” said Matt Warman, former AI Minister and UKAI Advisory Board member. The report, “Regulating AI in the UK,” outlines a vision for the UK to become the gold standard in AI regulation, with recommendations that include: AI Regulation Inquiry: A comprehensive investigation into the rapidly evolving AI landscape, emerging international policies, and the specific needs of UK businesses. Dedicated AI Governance: Suggestions include creating a standalone AI regulator, issuing clear guidance for SMEs, and appointing AI Officers (AIOs) to streamline governance. Ethical Seal of Approval: An industry-wide certification akin to B-Corp for companies adopting transparent, diverse, and inclusive AI practices. Educational Partnerships: Working with universities to create regulatory sandboxes and embedding AI-related technical and ethical training into education from an early age. As the Government prepares its long-awaited AI Opportunities Action Plan and the forthcoming AI Bill, UKAI positions itself as a key partner in shaping a forward-thinking, pragmatic regulatory framework. For industry insiders, academics, and policymakers, this report is more than a roadmap – it’s a rallying cry for Britain to seize the AI moment and establish itself as a beacon of global best practice. The full 30-page report, available to UKAI members, details actionable insights to ensure the UK’s AI sector thrives in a way that is fair, ethical, and economically impactful.
