Britain has rejected France’s attempt to get the world’s major powers to sign-up to an international agreement on Artificial Intelligence.

       French President Emmanuel Macron brought world leaders together in Paris but could not get the United States or the UK to sign the declaration.

       Downing Street said it failed to address “harder questions” about national safety.

       A Number 10 spokesman defended the decisions, saying: “This is about our own national interest, ensuring the balance between opportunity and security.”

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       Refusing to sign the declaration will not help Sir Keir’s Starmer’s efforts to get the French president onside as he works for a “reset” of relations with the European Union.

       When asked if the Government is worried about upsetting France, a Number 10 spokesman said: “No. We are and always have been clear-eyed on the need to ensure safety is baked into AI from the outset.”

       Last month Science Secretary Peter Kyle warned the UK had been “asleep at the wheel when it comes to the near boundless potential of this technology” and warned that Britain “can’t go on with an approach which allows AI-driven opportunity and prosperity to trundle along at a snail’s pace”.

       US Vice President JD Vance had urged Europe to take light-touch approach to regulating AI. But he also warned against doing deals with “authoritarian regimes”.

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       He said that too much regulation of AI could “kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off”.

       And in an apparent jab at China, he said: “Some authoritarian regimes have stolen and used AI to strengthen their military intelligence and surveillance capabilities, capture foreign data and create propaganda to undermine other nations’ national security. I want to be clear, this administration will block such efforts full stop.”

       France, China and India are among the 60 countries which signed the declaration which states that “making AI sustainable for people and the planet” is a priority.

       President Macron said: “We need these rules for AI to move forward.”