On February 5th, the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. hosted an insightful roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence, unofficially known as AI Night.
This event was a preview to the recent Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, which took place in Paris on February 10-11, bringing together leading experts to examine the global challenges and opportunities in AI governance.
The French Embassy, Jus Mundi, and Georgetown University Law Center organized the program, which featured a dynamic discussion titled “Demystifying the Looming AI Regulatory Landscape: A Transatlantic Perspective.“
Ambassador Laurent Bili opened the discussion with remarks underscoring the importance of transatlantic cooperation in navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Moderated by Professor Natalie G. Roisman, Executive Director of the Institute for Technology Law & Policy at Georgetown University Law Center, the discussion featured esteemed panelists:
- Gerry Petrella, General Manager of U.S. Public Policy at Microsoft
- Johannes Bahrke, Digital Counselor at the EU Delegation to the United States
- Jean-Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi
- Océane Thieriot, Political Advisor at the French Embassy
Panel Discussion: Key Topics
The panel explored a range of critical issues in AI governance, including:
- Ethical and Legal Challenges: Addressing the complex landscape of AI regulations and ensuring responsible AI deployment.
- Diverging and Converging Regulations: Examining the differences and commonalities between AI regulations in Europe and the United States, including discussions on the EU AI Act and recent U.S. executive orders on AI.
- Balancing Inclusivity and Freedom: Ensuring that AI regulations promote accessibility while safeguarding fundamental freedoms, protecting privacy, and preventing bias in algorithmic decision-making.
Following the discussion, F-ACF was honored to attend a reception hosted at the French Embassy, where attendees continued the conversation in an informal setting. The evening reinforced the importance of fostering international dialogue on AI policy and underscored the shared commitment to responsible AI development.
The reception gathering was a great opportunity for the French-American Cultural Foundation (F-ACF) to reconnect with Dodge Thompson, legendary National Gallery Curator, Lynda Frenois, French Embassy Cultural Attaché, and Vincent Bouat-Ferlier of the Chambrun Foundation.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening was the appearance of an incredible digitized Lafayette, who addressed the crowd virtually from La Grange. This added a unique historical and technological dimension to the event.
“What a fun and informative evening – the avatar of the Marquis de Lafayette beamed in from his historic home, La Grange, was a reminder of the connection between history and innovation – one leads to the other.”
AI Night at the French Embassy set the stage for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, where policymakers, industry leaders, and academics further explored AI’s role in shaping the future.
As AI continues to shape societies and economies worldwide, events like this roundtable play a crucial role in bridging perspectives and fostering collaboration. The French-American Cultural Foundation looks forward to continuing to support initiatives that promote meaningful dialogue and strengthen transatlantic partnerships in the digital age. Just another means for conversation…