France is making a major push into the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing €109 billion in investment over the coming years. This commitment comes ahead of a two-day summit in Paris, co-hosted with India, focusing on the potential benefits and challenges of AI.
The summit aims to "map" AI governance globally, promote ethical and accessible AI, and strengthen European sovereignty in the field. Macron highlighted the importance of French medical technology and homegrown AI developer Mistral, comparing the investment to the US's $500 billion "Stargate" program led by ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
The summit will feature lectures and panel discussions on AI's promises and challenges, showcasing France's own tech sector, which boasts around 750 AI startups. Key figures from the tech world, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and MistralAI's Arthur Mensch, are among the attendees.