Keir Starmer has opted not to attend the upcoming international summit on artificial intelligence in Paris, where other global leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Narendra Modi, and JD Vance will be present.
According to sources cited by the Guardian, the Prime Minister will skip the summit, which is part of a series of international AI conferences initiated by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year at Bletchley Park.
Officials indicate that Starmer, who has faced criticism for his frequent foreign trips, intends to focus on his domestic priorities.
However, by not participating in the Paris conference, Starmer may risk alienating both the French president and the Indian prime minister, who are co-hosting the event, and he will miss an opportunity to engage with key figures close to Donald Trump.
Vance, who served as Trump’s vice president, is anticipated to represent the United States, and industry insiders suggest that Elon Musk might also be present in a business capacity as the founder of the AI firm xAI.
A spokesperson from No. 10 stated, “The power and potential of evolving technologies like AI are rightly being harnessed by the UK and our allies.
“The Prime Minister recently unveiled our AI action plan to ensure that Britain maximizes its role as a leading AI nation, securing jobs, fostering growth, and enhancing the lives of working individuals.
“He firmly believes in the transformative economic potential of this technology and wishes our close ally, President Macron, a successful summit.”
Starmer is reportedly planning to dedicate the first day of the two-day summit (February 10-11) to a housing-related visit in the UK, followed by a vote in the Commons on the government’s immigration bill.
Rishi Sunak initiated the AI safety summits last year by hosting a two-day event at Bletchley Park, which was attended by notable figures such as Kamala Harris, the then US vice-president, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister.
This summit was regarded as a significant diplomatic achievement and led to the first international agreement on the safe development of AI, in response to concerns that advanced algorithms could eventually endanger humanity. Keir Starmer has previously described that summit as “very important.”
Since taking office, Starmer has demonstrated a comparable interest in AI as his predecessor, but he has opted to emphasize the potential benefits of the technology more than Sunak did. Last month, the prime minister delivered a speech on AI, asserting that “Britain will be one of the great AI superpowers.”
Alan Mak, the shadow secretary for science and innovation, remarked: “The Conservatives organized the inaugural AI safety summit, positioning the UK as a global leader in this field.
“Keir Starmer is jeopardizing that legacy and further undermining Britain’s standing on the international stage by neglecting this crucial summit.”
Next week’s summit is regarded in Paris as a pivotal moment for Macron’s presidency and a measure of his influence on the global stage. France aims to leverage this event to discuss strategies for providing clean energy for artificial intelligence and addressing potential disruptions in the labor market.
Macron has emphasized the importance of his AI strategy, describing the mastery of this technology as an “existential challenge” for the nation.
“The president envisions this as an AI equivalent of Choose France,” stated an Elysée spokesperson. “Choose France is the annual summit designed to showcase the country’s appeal to major international corporations.”
A source close to the president recently informed French journalists: “This is set to be a significant event for Emmanuel Macron, and he has high hopes for it. The Élysée Palace is putting in considerable effort to ensure its success.”
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