Next week, Vice President JD Vance will don his finest beret as he attends his first international trip to an AI summit in Paris, where he’ll help strategize how to properly harness the tech that already gets us into trouble.

Vance's jaunt to the AI Action Summit marks his inaugural overseas adventure since taking office, where he’ll rub elbows with global leaders, including Macron and Modi, to sift through what’s essentially a high-stakes tech therapy session following the arrival of China’s troublesome AI tool, DeepSeek. With the U.S. looking to navigate the murky waters of AI governance—prompted by a recent $500 billion infrastructure commitment—expect Vance to champion solutions that prioritize innovation while promising to keep the 'artificial' in 'artificial intelligence' firmly in check.

The AI Action Summit is not your typical gathering of tech enthusiasts. It brings together the big guns: heads of state, top government officials, and the CEOs who somehow convinced us that it’s a great idea to let algorithms determine our shopping habits. After all, who wouldn’t want a computer to suggest that second pair of shoes we definitely don't need, all while constructing an economic policy on the side?

Co-presiding over this conglomeration of minds are French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They’re tasked with steering conversations toward sustainable AI practices and establishing the scientific foundations necessary to avoid descending into a world ruled by malfunctioning robot overlords. Yes, the future is uncertain, but if anyone can keep the conversation civil amid the inevitable tech squabbling, it’s these two seasoned leaders—assuming no one misplaces the Wi-Fi password.

Adding to the stakes is the recent emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI tool making waves in the U.S. financial markets. This development has fueled a sense of urgency around the summit, as officials grapple with how to create a balanced approach to AI regulation. Not to mention, it adds a splash of anxiety—the kind typically reserved for opening your credit card bill after a particularly impulsive online shopping spree. Vance's performance at the summit might just dictate whether the U.S. can navigate this turbulent tech landscape without veering into chaos.

Then there’s the matter of addressing Vance’s previous remarks on AI’s darker applications. He’s expressed concerns about the perils of overregulation and has seemingly made it his personal mission to ensure that while we’re ushering in the AI revolution, it’s not achieved at the cost of common sense and civil liberties. You have to appreciate a politician willing to tread lightly while discussing high-tech governance; it’s akin to a tightrope walker deciding whether to pass their hat to the spectators below.

Vance's upcoming attendance at the Munich Security Conference right after Paris is also noteworthy. It suggests that he’s not just a participant in these discussions but also someone eager to cement his place on the global stage. Perhaps he’ll initiate some lighthearted discussions about European pastries amid the security concerns—though he might want to avoid any commentaries on American fast food while he’s out of the country.

Moreover, many are curious how Vance plans to engage with fellow attendees about the balance of innovation and regulation. Given that this is his first international assignment, we can only hope that his aides have prepared him with a starter kit of phrases ranging from 'Bonjour' to 'I promise AI will not take over your jobs… yet.' It’s all about building relationships while ensuring that he doesn’t accidentally trigger a diplomatic incident by mispronouncing the French word for ‘friends.’

As Vance preps for this momentous occasion, one can only imagine his mental checklist: 'Find chic Parisian outfit, sort out international travel policies, practice saying things without looking completely bewildered.' As long as he avoids trying to install a competing AI assistant while there, he should be fine. What could go wrong when politicians gather to interpret the future of technology over croissants and coffee?

In an era where the question 'Will AI take my job?' hangs over our heads like an ever-present cloud, discussions at the summit could influence the trajectory of how we interact with technology moving forward. And while Vance might be the newcomer in the international political arena, one has to admire the fact that he is stepping into these conversations with a combination of courage and perhaps a touch of naïveté. But then again, isn't that what diplomacy is often about?