Matthew Lynn

Vance is right, Europe is smothering AI

J.D. Vance (Getty Images)

They won’t have liked the message or the messenger. With characteristic bluntness, the American vice president J. D. Vance tore into the European Union’s smothering regulation of artificial intelligence today. 

Still, Europe’s leaders should listen. Vance happens to be absolutely right.

When President Macron convened an AI summit in Paris this week, he was probably hoping for the usual platitudes from world leaders about ‘transformative technologies’ and ‘empowering change’ – along with a few billion euros for some data hubs in France. Unfortunately, no one told Vance how these things are meant to work. In his speech he spoke his mind, and tore into his hosts. 

‘We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry,’ he told the chief executives and heads of state in the hall.

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