Emmanuel Macron announces an additional 500 million euros for its development in France

He wants “creating champions”. The President of the Republic announced, Wednesday, June 14, additional funding of more than 500 million euros to develop artificial intelligence in France. “We need to create five to ten clusters, worth 500 million euros, to have two or three centers of excellence” at the global level, said Emmanuel Macron from the VivaTech show, the largest European show dedicated to this sector, which has just opened its doors.

The Head of State also took advantage of this exhibition dedicated to entrepreneurs to denounce “those who hate those who make money”. “Hating people who make money doesn’t work”he launched. “I am for the success of those who invest in the economy. We must not curb our entrepreneurs when they are ready to reinvest”, he said in front of an audience of entrepreneurs. The Head of State was pleased to have created since 2017 “a potential for ‘business angels'”private investors.

Invest before regulating

The Head of State also wanted the development of generative AI and large models in “open source” (code open to all). For this, he wishes to encourage databases in French. A seed fund of 50 million is planned in the sector. Public calls for projects worth 150 million will also be launched for cultural projects on digital and metaverse practices.

Emmanuel Macron also called for European regulation of AI that does not curb innovation. “The worst scenario would be a Europe that invests much less than the Americans and the Chinese and that would start by creating regulation. This scenario is possible, it would not be the one I would support”, he warned.

Meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament has adopted Wednesday its position on the“Artificial Intelligence Act”a proposal regulation filed in April 2021 by the European Commission. MEPs are calling for new bans, such as facial recognition in public places by dedicated systems.