“To restrict it’s development now would not only unfairly benefit incumbents in the space, it would mean paralyzing one of the most promising technologies we have seen in generations,” he said in his first major trip overseas since taking office.  

Vance pointedly attacked Europe’s Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, telling attendees, which included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, that these were “onerous international rules” that have stifled innovation and created unnecessary hurdles for American businesses.

EU tech boss Henna Virkkunen told POLITICO on the sidelines of the summit before Vance’s speech that the bloc’s tech laws were fair since they applied to everyone equally. However, she said that she would discuss the issue with her American counterparts and promised a more “innovation-friendly” AI regulatory framework.

Despite his various criticisms, Vance’s comments are likely to be well received with many of Europe’s biggest AI players, as they have have been calling for Brussels to focus more on innovation and less on regulation. Some tech leaders have gone so far as to call for a review of the EU’s AI act, which bans certain practices and introduces safeguards.

Vance added that he welcomed the tone of conversations at the summit, which French President Emmanuel Macron has branded as a moment to embrace the opportunities linked to the development of AI, rather than focus on regulation and pondering its existential threats.

“I like to see that deregulatory flavor making its way into a lot of conversations,” he said.