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Key Quotes from US Vice President JD Vance’s AI Speech at the Paris Summit

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered his first major international speech on Tuesday, outlining the artificial intelligence (AI) policies of the Trump administration. Emphasizing innovation, deregulation, and the protection of free speech and U.S. workers, Vance positioned AI as the dawn of a new industrial revolution. Below are key quotes from his address:

  • “I’m not here this morning to talk about AI safety, which was the title of the conference a couple of years ago. I’m here to talk about AI opportunity.”
  • “The Trump administration believes that AI will have countless revolutionary applications in economic innovation, job creation, national security, health care, free expression, and beyond. To restrict its development now would not only unfairly benefit incumbents in this space, but it would mean paralyzing one of the most promising technologies we have seen in generations.”
  • “This administration will ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide, and we are the partner of choice for other foreign countries and certainly businesses as they expand their own use of AI.”
  • “Excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off. We’ll make every effort to encourage pro-growth AI policies, and I’d like to see that deregulatory flavor making its way into a lot of the conversations at this conference.”
  • “We feel very strongly that AI must remain free from ideological bias, and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship.”
  • “The Trump administration will maintain a pro-worker growth path for AI, so it can be a potent tool for job creation in the United States.”
  • “The United States of America is the leader in AI and our administration plans to keep it that way.”
  • “America wants to partner with all of you. We want to embark on the AI revolution before us with the spirit of openness and collaboration. But to create that kind of trust, we need international regulatory regimes that foster the creation of AI technology rather than strangle it, and we need our European friends in particular to look to this new frontier with optimism.”
  • “The Trump administration is troubled by reports that some foreign governments are considering tightening screws on U.S. tech companies with international footprints. America cannot and will not accept that, and we think it’s a terrible mistake.”
  • “At this moment, we face the extraordinary prospect of a new industrial revolution. But it will never come to pass if over-regulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball.”
  • “The Trump administration will ensure that AI systems developed in America are free from ideological bias and never restrict our citizens’ right to free speech.”
  • “We’ve also watched as hostile foreign adversaries have weaponized AI software to rewrite history, surveil users, and censor speech. Some authoritarian regimes have stolen and used AI to strengthen their military intelligence and surveillance capabilities.”
  • “We will always center American workers in our AI policy. We refuse to view AI as a purely disruptive technology that will inevitably automate away our labor force.”
  • “We must focus now on the opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle, unleash our most brilliant innovators, and use AI to improve the well-being of our nations and their peoples.”

Starbucks Loses Appeal Over Firing of Unionizing Baristas in NLRB Case

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Starbucks suffered a significant legal setback on Friday as a federal appeals court largely upheld a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that the coffee giant illegally fired two baristas in Philadelphia who were seeking to unionize.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Starbucks failed to provide grounds to challenge the constitutionality of NLRB administrative law judges. This decision may hinder similar efforts by companies such as Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and SpaceX to limit the agency’s enforcement authority.

Writing for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Thomas Ambro stated that there was substantial evidence supporting the NLRB’s conclusion that Starbucks engaged in unfair labor practices by firing baristas Echo Nowakowska and Tristan Bussiere. The court also agreed that the company reduced Nowakowska’s hours in retaliation for her union-organizing efforts.

The court rejected Starbucks’ argument that it should not be required to rehire the baristas with back pay, despite the company’s claim that the employees secretly recorded meetings with supervisors. Starbucks argued that it discovered these recordings only after the terminations, but the court found that the company was aware of this activity prior to firing the workers.

However, the court ruled that the NLRB overstepped its authority by ordering Starbucks to cover the baristas’ foreseeable expenses, such as costs incurred while seeking new jobs or paying out-of-pocket medical bills.

Starbucks maintained that the firings were unrelated to union activity, alleging Nowakowska had performed poorly and mistreated customers, while Bussiere was accused of spreading false rumors about another employee’s termination. The company has yet to comment on the ruling.

The broader case marks the first instance of a federal appeals court addressing challenges to the NLRB’s enforcement powers, including the constitutionality of its administrative law judges being shielded from presidential removal. Judge Ambro dismissed Starbucks’ standing to challenge these protections, noting the company could not demonstrate harm.

Starbucks has faced numerous allegations of unfair labor practices amid a nationwide unionization campaign by its workers. The campaign, spearheaded by Starbucks Workers United, included strikes at more than 300 stores in December.

The cases are NLRB v. Starbucks Corp, No. 23-1953, and Starbucks Corp v. NLRB, No. 23-2241, both in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.