In a move that has raised eyebrows in both tech and diplomatic circles, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has decided not to attend next week’s high-stakes international summit on artificial intelligence (AI) in Paris. The gathering, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to bring together global leaders to discuss the safe development of AI and chart a course for international cooperation in this critical domain.
Starmer’s decision to sit out the summit comes at a pivotal moment, as nations race to establish themselves as leaders in the rapidly evolving field of AI. The UK, in particular, has made no secret of its ambitions to become an “AI superpower,” with Starmer himself recently declaring that “Britain will be one of the great AI superpowers.” Yet by opting out of the Paris summit, the prime minister risks undermining that very goal.
A Missed Opportunity for Global Leadership
The Paris AI summit is no ordinary conference. It represents a key opportunity for world leaders to come together and tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: ensuring that the development of artificial intelligence proceeds in a safe, responsible, and beneficial manner. With luminaries such as US Vice President JD Vance and tech visionary Elon Musk expected to be in attendance, the summit offers a rare chance for high-level dialogue and coordination on this crucial issue.
By choosing to focus on his domestic agenda instead, Starmer risks missing out on this vital opportunity to shape the global conversation around AI. His absence could be interpreted as a lack of commitment to international cooperation on this critical issue, potentially undermining Britain’s credibility as an AI leader on the world stage.
Building on the Bletchley Legacy
The decision is all the more puzzling given the UK’s proud history of leadership in the field of computing and artificial intelligence. It was at Bletchley Park, after all, that British codebreakers famously used early computers to crack Nazi encryption during World War II – a legacy that Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak, sought to build upon by launching the AI safety summit series at that very site last year.
That inaugural summit, attended by luminaries such as then-US Vice President Kamala Harris and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, resulted in the first international declaration on the safe development of AI. By skipping the follow-up summit in Paris, Starmer risks squandering the momentum and goodwill generated by that landmark event.
Straining the Anglo-French Partnership
Starmer’s absence is likely to be keenly felt by summit co-host Emmanuel Macron. The French president has made no secret of his desire to establish France as a key player in the global AI race, and the Paris summit is being seen as a major test of his clout on the international stage. By snubbing the event, Starmer risks straining the already-delicate relationship between London and Paris at a time when close cooperation on issues like AI will be more important than ever.
“This is going to be the thing for Emmanuel Macron, and he has high expectations of it. The Élysée Palace is working very hard on this.”
– Source close to French President Emmanuel Macron
Advancing Britain’s AI Action Plan
To be fair, Starmer’s government has not been idle on the AI front. Just last month, the prime minister unveiled an ambitious new “AI action plan” aimed at solidifying Britain’s position as a current AI leader and harnessing the technology’s potential to create jobs, drive economic growth, and improve people’s lives. But by opting out of the Paris summit, Starmer risks undermining his own agenda and missing out on valuable opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other AI leaders.
As Shadow Science and Innovation Secretary Alan Mak pointed out, “The Conservatives hosted the first AI Safety Summit, establishing the UK as a world leader in the sector. Keir Starmer is threatening that legacy and further damaging Britain’s leadership on the world stage by spurning this important summit.”
Charting the Future of AI
Ultimately, the decision to skip the Paris AI summit feels like a missed opportunity for Keir Starmer and for Britain as a whole. As nations around the world race to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, close international cooperation and coordination will be essential to ensure that the technology develops in a way that benefits all of humanity.
By choosing to focus inward rather than engaging with his fellow world leaders, Starmer risks ceding Britain’s place at the forefront of this critical conversation. For a nation that aspires to be an AI superpower, that is a risky gambit indeed.
As the Paris summit gets underway next week, all eyes will be on the leaders who do choose to attend – and on the critical decisions they make about the future of artificial intelligence. For Britain and for Keir Starmer, the question remains: will they be part of shaping that future, or will they watch from the sidelines as others chart the course?
