The other day I wrote that people praising the speech given by Vice President J.D. Vance at the Paris AI summit are “mistaking jingoism and wishful thinking for true global leadership with a real vision for AI and humanity.” It is of course only fair to ask what true leadership on AI would look like. Here is what I wish he would have said instead:

Dear leaders of nations, we gather here in Paris at a moment of unprecedented possibility and peril in human history. 

We stand at the threshold of opportunities so vast they would have seemed like science fiction to our grandparents. The possibility of becoming a multi-planetary species, of eliminating diseases that have plagued humanity for millennia, of creating abundant clean energy to power the dreams and aspirations of all peoples – all of these are within our grasp.

Yet we also face enormous challenges that know no borders, respect no sovereignty, and threaten people of all nations equally. The specter of new pandemics, the growing shadow of global warming, the ever so real threat of celestial objects that could end human civilization.

And at the center of both these promises and these perils stands artificial intelligence – the most powerful technology humanity has ever created. It is the great accelerator of our age, capable of multiplying our capabilities a thousandfold in pursuit of progress or destruction.

We must face, with clear eyes and steady hearts, the possibility that in creating artificial intelligence, we may be crafting something that could one day surpass us in ways we cannot fully comprehend. This is not science fiction, but a challenge we must confront today.

Let us be clear: The task of ensuring that artificial intelligence remains aligned with human flourishing is the greatest technical and moral challenge of our time. We cannot delay, we cannot equivocate, and we cannot fail. The stakes are nothing less than the future of human civilization.

And so today, we call upon all nations, all peoples, to join in a great endeavor: to ensure that artificial intelligence remains by humanity and for humanity. Let that be our rallying cry!

We recognize that all of come from different traditions, with different values and different dreams. But surely in the vast tapestry of human culture and belief, we can find common ground in the simple truth that human flourishing – the ability of our species not just to survive but to thrive – is a value we all share.

The choice before us is clear: We can work in isolation, guided by fear and suspicion, racing toward a future none of us can control on our own. Or we can work together, sharing our insights, our discoveries, and yes, our concerns, to create a future worthy of our highest aspirations.

Let us choose cooperation over competition. Let us choose openness over secrecy. Let us choose to face these challenges together, not as Americans or Russians, Chinese or Europeans, but as human beings united in our determination to harness this revolutionary technology for the benefit of all.

The task before us is great, but so are we. The challenges are unprecedented, but so is our capacity to meet them. The stakes are nothing less than the future of human civilization, but we believe that future is bright.

Let us begin this work today, with courage in our hearts and hope in our minds, for the eyes of future generations are upon us. They will judge us not by the speeches we gave or the fears we harbored, but by whether we rose to meet this moment with the unity, wisdom, and determination it demands.

Thank you and Ad Astra!