If Anne Le Hénanff, the new Ministerial Delegate in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, lamented clearly that some people have difficulty in supporting a preference for French and European products when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), then on the other hand, she expressed as much. He even called himself the ‘minister of digital sovereignty’. “ We have to make a choice, he insisted to AIM, event organized by La Tribune and BFM Business in Marseille. Some company management does not dare to do this or imagines that only dominant players will offer the performance they desire. Instead, let’s assume a European preference for AI ! “.
Suffice it to say that the Ministerial Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, Roland Lescure, has the intention to “ encouragement » France and European champion in this important area of the economy.
Map our dependencies
How ? Through adjusted public policies. France 2030 and French Tech must continue. However, what is even more concrete is through public procurement. Anne Le Hénanff therefore believes that governments should work to ensure that technological equipment, originating in France or Europe, then spreads throughout the region.
In this regard, he hopes that the next Franco-German summit on European digital sovereignty, on November 18 in Berlin, will make it possible to develop a common definition of what digital sovereignty actually is, and make joint commitments in terms of public procurement. Especially since a review of the European Union’s legal framework on public procurement, which has already been launched, will produce legislative proposals in 2026.
For this public order, “ extraordinary leverage », according to the Minister of Finance, there will be additional investment, including in the form of public/private partnerships, to support French and European champions. The example of the investment of ASML, a Dutch company producing machines for the semiconductor industry, in the recent fundraising (amounting to 1.7 billion euros) of Mistral AI, is emblematic of this action on a European scale.
But for now, business in the Union countries remains subordinate to foreign giants. “ We have to be realistic about our addiction », continued the minister. The Franco-German summit could actually also be an opportunity to map these dangers. With the intention of ” minimizing intrusions and predatory actions by certain global players “, he explained.
In addition, France, which is still ahead in the competition for technological innovation, if we take quantum as an example, also plays its role in infrastructure. Of the 12 data center construction projects announced at the beginning of the year, “ nine are in progress », emphasized the Minister of Finance, others are still hampered by administrative regulations. Enough to ensure storage, in the region, of our data and therefore to protect it.
AI that is useful for humans
Finally, with a background of sovereignty, France and Europe are also campaigning for AI “ useful for humans », Added new minister. “ My visionhe detailed, is that we must regulate without stifling innovation, and adapt very specific uses of AI for human benefit. »
In this regard, he believes that the next AI summit, the Impact Summit, to be held in 2026 in New Delhi, should build mutual understanding between India and Europe, with an ethical approach, aimed at prioritizing interests “ man on the street “. It remains to be seen whether this philosophy will work against the American and Chinese giants.
