by Jeffrey Dastin
Paris (Reuters) – Political leaders and entrepreneurs around the world are found this Monday in Paris for a summit for action on artificial intelligence (AI) intended to take the measure of this revolution called to be marked, in the absence of be regulated.
Organized until Tuesday at the Grand Palais and the Elysée, this meeting is part of the wake of the meetings of Bletchley Park and Seoul which began to take the measure of the challenges, both technological and human, represented by The emergence of tools like Chatgpt (launched by the United States in 2022).
The eagerness of countries to brake AI has however slowed down since.
President Donald Trump canceled the restrictions imposed on AI by his predecessor Joe Biden, and his administration do not send any representative of the American Security Institute in Paris.
Donald Trump has also launched the “Stargate” project, in which Openai will participate, intended to develop in AI by 2029 with investments up to $ 500 billion.
At the Paris Summit, France must announce investments in AI for 109 billion euros, President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday evening.
At the end of January, the Chinese group Deepseek surprised the world by presenting a generative AI of a power equivalent to that of Chatgpt but cheaper and much cheaper in energy, challenging its competitors to accelerate the pace in terms of innovation .
It is in this context that the American vice-president JD Vance and the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Guoqing meet in Paris for discussions during which it should also be a question of the enormous energy needs generated by the AI, time of the fight against climate change.
A non -binding press release is being developed.
While Europe seeks to do well, France pleads for an application of European regulations sufficiently flexible not to slow down the ambitions of its national technological champions.
“AI cannot be the West West”
“It’s about installing the rules of the game. AI cannot be the West West,” said Emmanuel Macron in an interview with the regional daily press last week.
“There is a risk that some decide not to have rules and it is dangerous. But there is also the opposite risk, if Europe gives too much rules,” he said. “We must not be afraid of innovation”.
The Paris Summit is preceded by scientific days bringing together researchers and economists, cultural events and political meetings.
Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday on France 2 a total of 109 billion investments in the AI ​​field in France “in the coming years”, an envelope which includes an investment of the United Arab Emirates who can reach 50 billion and 20 billion of the Canadian Brookfield.
The French president dinted on Sunday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country is committed, such as forty others, in the global partnership for AI.
“The important thing is how we put artificial intelligence at the service of citizens, how the middle class, small entrepreneurs can feel engaged and more powerful,” said Justin Trudeau.
“We want to innovate and go fast, we all want to be in the race,” said Emmanuel Macron alongside the Canadian leader, recalling the importance of “seeing clearly” in the use of this tool.
The French president will speak on Monday with Zhang Guoqing, then Tuesday with JD Vance, according to the presidential agenda.
On the business side, the CEO of Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, and the director general of Openai, Sam Altman, are announced in Paris.
A dinner is scheduled for Monday at the Elysée, on the eve of the plenary session at the Grand Palais co-led by Emmanuel Macron and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For companies, a business day is organized Tuesday at Station F.
Arthur Mensch, managing director of the French start-up Mistral, told Reuters that the summit would help show the general public the advantages of AI on a daily basis.
“The French and the whole world realize that European players count and that they bring advanced technology,” he said.
(Report Jeffrey Dastin and Elizabeth Pineau, with Florence Lève)
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