Portrait of Emmanuel Macron
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Emmanuel Macron on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Advocate for European AI Sovereignty (strong)

Emmanuel Macron views Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a profound technological, economic, social, and ethical revolution happening in the present day, demanding an accelerated, sovereign European response. His core strategy centers on massive investment, developing a 'third way' independent of the US and China, and establishing robust international governance built on trust.

Macron has committed significant financial resources, positioning France as a key European AI hub through substantial investment plans and seeking foreign partnerships to boost computing infrastructure. He strongly advocates for a balanced approach that fosters innovation by reducing regulatory red tape, drawing parallels to the rapid reconstruction of the Notre Dame cathedral to set ambitious timelines for AI deployment.

Crucially, Emmanuel Macron emphasizes ethical development, calling for global regulation to manage risks like misinformation and copyright issues, while stressing equitable access to AI technologies across all continents to build global trust in the technology.

Context

Emmanuel Macron's engagement with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is significant as he seeks to position France and the European Union (EU) as a major technological pole in a global landscape dominated by the United States and China.

His approach is deeply tied to his broader foreign policy objective of European strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty, viewing AI capabilities as essential for future economic competitiveness and geopolitical influence.

Actions Taken

  1. National Strategy Launch
    Presented an ambitious national AI strategy titled 'AI for humanity', based on a report by Cédric Villani.
  2. Funding Announcement
    Announced a historic investment plan of €109 billion for AI projects in France, designed to match the ambition of the US 'Stargate' initiative.
  3. Regulatory Policy
    Called for Europe to simplify regulations, adopting a 'Notre Dame strategy' of rapid delivery for AI and data centre projects.
  4. International Partnership
    Announced partnerships, including with the United Arab Emirates for an AI campus and data centre, and noted investment from Brookfield.
  5. Education And Training Initiative
    Set an objective to train 100,000 young people a year in AI technologies to significantly scale up human capital in the sector.
  6. International Initiative Funding
    Promoted the Current AI partnership with a commitment of €100 million from France to develop open-source tools.

Key Quotes

"This is a moment of opportunity by humanity... Europe and France must accelerate their investments."

TV interview with TF1 February 10, 2025 — Stressing the need for rapid investment ahead of the Paris AI Summit.

"We showed the rest of the world that when we commit to a clear timeline, we can deliver."

AI Action Summit in Paris February 10, 2025 — Comparing the potential speed of AI development to the rebuilding of Notre Dame.

"The future of AI is a political issue centered on sovereignty and strategic autonomy."

Statement before the AI Action Summit February 1, 2025 — Emphasizing the geopolitical stakes of AI competition.

"I think there should be global regulation... we need partnerships between private and public stakeholders."

AI Summit address February 10, 2025 — Stressing the need for international governance and trust frameworks.

Related Positions

  • Technological Sovereignty Emmanuel Macron frames AI leadership as central to achieving technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy for Europe against the US and China.
  • Regulation and Ethics He advocates for a 'third way' balancing innovation with global regulation to ensure AI is ethical, transparent, and accessible, especially concerning potential societal harms.
  • Infrastructure and Energy He highlights France's existing nuclear energy capacity as a key advantage for powering the energy-intensive AI data centres required for development.

Criticism

Some voices at the AI Summit

Expressed concern about reducing regulations for AI projects, fearing it could weaken necessary safeguards against potential risks.

JD Vance (US Vice-President)

Championed a more hands-off approach to AI development, contrasting with Macron's push for governance and warning that 'excessive regulation' could cripple the industry.

Sources7

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.