The AI leadership race must be led by “western, liberal, democratic” nations, UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has declared, issuing a veiled warning about China’s expanding role in artificial intelligence.
His remarks come ahead of a major AI summit in Paris, where global leaders and top tech executives will discuss the future of AI development.
Kyle’s comments follow the rise of China’s DeepSeek, an AI powerhouse that has shaken Silicon Valley’s dominance.
The emergence of DeepSeek has been described as a “Sputnik moment” by a US investor, as the Chinese firm recently launched an AI model that rivals or surpasses its American counterparts at a lower cost.
The UK government is set to use the summit to reinforce its stance on AI governance. According to Kyle, Britain has the “skills and scientific pedigree” needed to ensure that democratic nations stay at the forefront of artificial intelligence advancements.
The technology minister stressed that AI would affect every aspect of society, from national security to economic development.
“Government does have agency in how this technology is developed and deployed and consumed. We need to use that agency to reinforce our democratic principles, our liberal values, and our democratic way of life.”
UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle
While Kyle refrained from naming specific nations, he warned that some countries are leveraging AI to advance their own ideological agendas. “We can defend and keep people safe only if democratic countries prevail,” he stated.
The AI summit, scheduled for February 10-11, will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other key attendees include US Vice President JD Vance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing. Tech leaders such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and AI researcher Demis Hassabis will also participate.
UK’s Role in AI and National Security
The UK government has pledged to examine the national security implications of DeepSeek’s advancements, amid concerns about AI’s influence on geopolitical stability. Kyle, however, remains optimistic, stating, “I am enthused and motivated by DeepSeek. I’m not fearful.”
The AI summit will focus on AI’s economic and societal impact, shifting away from the safety-centric discussions of the 2023 Bletchley Park summit. Key topics include AI’s role in job creation, cultural influence, and global regulation.
Officials are also expected to announce initiatives for sustainable AI development and increased accessibility to AI technologies worldwide.
Another major issue on the agenda is the use of copyrighted materials in AI model training—a contentious topic that has sparked legal and ethical debates.
In parallel with the summit, the UK government has launched a bidding process for AI growth zones, aiming to establish new data centers for training and running AI systems.
Kyle emphasized that these initiatives should benefit historically “left behind” regions of the UK. “We are putting extra effort into finding those parts of the country which, for too long, have missed out on innovation and new opportunities,” he said.
The government has already identified potential sites in Scotland, Wales, and northern England, with a particular focus on areas with strong energy infrastructure to support AI’s intensive power demands.
The Culham Science Centre, home to the UK Atomic Energy Authority, is being considered as a trial site for AI development.
An early draft of the summit’s final statement emphasizes “making AI sustainable for people and the planet” while ensuring it remains “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.” With global concerns over AI safety and regulation, leaders will aim to strike a balance between fostering innovation and maintaining ethical standards.
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