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‘Long live AI’: Macron pitches France as the place to build AI over UK and US


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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

 

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged artificial intelligence (AI) firms to choose France and Europe for their AI development, as he closed the first day of the AI Action Summit in Paris. The two-day summit has been seen as a key moment for nations to stake their claim as global leaders in AI, especially in the wake of the recent disruption caused by the Chinese app DeepSeek, which has created a potential power vacuum in the AI sector.

 

The UK’s Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, is attending the summit and highlighted the UK’s newly launched AI Opportunities Action Plan. This plan promises significant investments in AI infrastructure and aims to integrate AI more broadly into the public sector, streamlining operations. Mr Kyle stated before the summit that the UK’s action plan would reinforce the country’s position as a pioneer in the field.

 

However, President Macron made a passionate case for France as a competitor to both the UK and the US in the race for AI dominance. Speaking at the summit, Macron emphasised that French and European regulations would safeguard copyright and protect human creativity. He reassured attendees that France would not abandon the values it holds dear, including the preservation of a fair and regulated digital landscape.

 

In his appeal to major US tech companies, such as Google and OpenAI, Macron stated that France would collaborate with partners globally, regardless of geopolitical tensions. He noted that both France and the European Union were committed to introducing “smart regulation” to ensure responsible AI development.

 

Macron also highlighted France’s energy resources as a key factor in its competitiveness. He pointed out that France’s vast nuclear energy capacity made it a more sustainable and viable location for large-scale data centres, which are essential to power the energy-hungry AI sector. In contrast, he took a swipe at US President Donald Trump’s emphasis on drilling for oil, saying, “It’s just ‘plug, baby, plug’. Electricity is available. You can plug. It’s ready.”

 

Ahead of the summit, Macron had announced an investment of around £91 billion in French AI projects over the next few years. He declared that this investment would allow France to reassert its position in the global AI race. On the second day of the summit, further announcements were expected, including the unveiling of a new EU AI strategy focused on regulation and investment in computing capacity.

 

Concluding his speech, Macron delivered an emphatic statement: “Long live AI, long live the Republic, and long live France.”

 

On Tuesday 11 February, world leaders are set to discuss key issues around AI development, including sustainability, safety, and governance. A new declaration on the future of AI is expected to be signed at the summit’s close.

 

Based on an article from the Independent 11.02.2025.

 

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-- 2025-02-12

 

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