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Trump, DeepSeek in Focus as Nations Gather at Paris AI Summit

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The Paris AI Summit on February 10-11 is set to bring together nearly 100 countries to discuss the safe development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular spotlight on U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and China’s DeepSeek. This summit follows last year’s meeting at Bletchley Park in England, expanding the conversation globally.

France, alongside India, is hosting the event with a focus on areas where it holds a competitive edge: open-source systems and clean energy for data centers. The summit will also address labor disruptions and AI market sovereignty. Top executives, including those from Alphabet and Microsoft, are expected to attend, with keynotes such as one from OpenAI’s Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT.

The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, faces challenges in reaching consensus with China and other nations due to ongoing political tensions. Since President Trump’s administration began in January, several executive orders have reversed Biden’s approach, including pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement and revisiting AI export controls to counter China.

A major point of discussion will be the creation of a non-binding communiqué on AI stewardship, which, if agreed upon, would mark significant progress. While the French presidency has emphasized that the summit will give a voice to all nations, it is clear that discussions will be influenced by the competition between the U.S. and China, particularly in AI development.

The summit will not focus on new regulations but will instead discuss frameworks for AI policy, aiming to balance innovation with safety. European nations, especially France, are keen to avoid regulations that might slow down the advancement of their national AI companies.

A notable highlight is the inclusion of China’s DeepSeek, which has recently disrupted the global AI scene by offering models that compete with U.S. companies at a fraction of the cost. This has bolstered the argument that the global race for AI supremacy remains open, as DeepSeek challenges established leaders in human-like reasoning technology.

At the summit, philanthropies and businesses are expected to commit substantial capital—starting with $500 million and potentially rising to $2.5 billion over five years—to fund public-interest AI projects across the globe. Additionally, energy concerns will be discussed, with France positioning its clean nuclear energy as a potential solution to the high power demands of AI models.

 

Biden Signs Executive Order to Support AI Data Centers with Federal Power and Land

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On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order designed to bolster the infrastructure needed for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The order, according to the White House, aims to address the growing energy demands of AI by leveraging federal land, particularly from the Departments of Defense and Energy, to host gigawatt-scale AI data centers and new clean power facilities.

Biden emphasized that the initiative would accelerate the development of AI infrastructure in the U.S., promoting economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy. “The next generation of AI infrastructure will be built here in America,” Biden stated, underscoring the importance of aligning the country’s energy and technological sectors.

A key provision of the order mandates that companies using federal land for AI data centers must purchase a portion of American-made semiconductors. The exact number of chips required will be determined on a case-by-case basis for each project. This comes as part of the Biden administration’s broader push to invest over $30 billion in subsidizing U.S. chip production.

Tarun Chhabra, White House technology adviser, pointed out that the increasing demand for computational power to train and operate advanced AI models necessitates the creation of robust infrastructure. By 2028, leading AI developers will require data centers with up to five gigawatts of capacity to support the most sophisticated models.

The executive order also addresses national security concerns by ensuring AI technology remains within the U.S. and allied nations, as the Commerce Department moves forward with additional restrictions on AI chip and technology exports. Chhabra noted that AI systems already present substantial risks, including potential military applications and threats related to biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear weapons.

The order also instructs agencies to expedite electric grid interconnection, permitting processes, and transmission development surrounding the newly designated federal sites.

BMW and Yamaha Motor Invest in U.S. Rare Earths Startup Phoenix Tailings

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BMW and Yamaha Motor have joined several other investors in backing U.S.-based rare earths processing startup Phoenix Tailings. The $43 million Series B funding round, which closed on December 20, will help Phoenix scale its operations to meet the increasing demand for rare earths outside of China. These metals, crucial for the production of magnets used in electric vehicles, electronics, and other technology, are essential to the transition to clean energy.

Rare earths are primarily refined using the solvent extraction method, which has become outdated in the U.S. due to its environmental costs. Chinese companies have dominated this process for decades, but recent actions by Beijing to limit exports have led to a global scramble for alternative sources and technologies. Phoenix Tailings claims its innovative process can produce rare earths from mined ore or recycled equipment with little to no emissions, offering a cleaner solution to the existing industry standards.

The investment round includes venture capital funds such as Envisioning Partners, MPower, and Escape Velocity, alongside BMW and Yamaha’s venture arms. Phoenix plans to use the funds to build a $13 million facility in Exeter, New Hampshire, scheduled to open by June 2025. The facility will have the capacity to produce 200 metric tons of rare earths annually.

Phoenix has already signed over $100 million in supply contracts but has not disclosed the partners. The company’s plans also include scaling its operations with larger processing plants in the U.S. if the Exeter site proves successful. With 33 employees, Phoenix aims to go public within three to five years.

The company’s approach of focusing on rare earths processing rather than mining sets it apart from competitors such as MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths. Phoenix is also applying for U.S. government loans and grants to support its growth.