Conference Presentation, Keynote
Opening Address by Anne Le Hénanff, French Minister-Delegate for AI | RAISE Summit 2026
- France positions the RAISE Summit as a catalyst to establish Paris and the nation as a global hub for "responsible, sovereign, and human-centered AI," distinct from the "third way" vision articulated by President Emmanuel Macron.
- The event builds upon the momentum of the 2023 Paris AI Action Summit, which attracted over 40,000 participants, including leaders, researchers, and innovators, to advance a unified vision for AI alignment with European values.
- Since 2018, the French government has committed 3 billion euros to its national AI strategy, including a recent 655 million euro investment announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu to accelerate sector-specific breakthroughs.
- Key government programs driving this ecosystem include "France Legal Tech" and "Pionier de l'IA," which target breakthroughs in legal technology, robotics, healthcare, and cybersecurity.
- The "Auxilia" plan, launched one year ago, focuses on accelerating AI adoption through three pillars:
- A deployed network of 600 AI ambassadors across mainland France and overseas territories designed to demystify AI for businesses of all sizes.
- The "Accélérate" platform, which showcases real-world success stories and co-finances diagnosis and accelerators to drive adoption among SMEs.
- Softbank announced a potential investment of up to 75 billion euros in the French AI value chain, cited as evidence of the country's attractiveness for the sector.
- France is positioning itself as Europe's primary location for AI infrastructure by leveraging decarbonized energy, a supportive regulatory framework, and a well-connected territory.
- To support large-scale data center projects for AI training and inference, the government has identified 63 suitable locations, including six "fast-track" sites.
- The national strategy has fostered a thriving regional ecosystem, with recent AI summits held in Brittany and Northern France highlighting dynamism beyond the capital.
- Over 2,000 AI startups have emerged in France, creating approximately 50,000 jobs in the sector.
- Prominent French AI companies leading the innovation curve include Mistral AI, H-Company, Amilab, and Equimetrix.
- Digital sovereignty is being pursued through frameworks that aim to reduce dependency without engaging in isolationism or protectionism, ensuring that foreign companies create value in Europe and adhere to local rules.
- France is actively attracting global capital and talent through initiatives such as "French Tech Next 40/120" and the "Choose France" program.
- The regulatory framework is designed to provide businesses with transparency, fairness, accountability, and long-term certainty, making the nation a trusted partner for international collaboration.
- The summit emphasized AI adoption as a priority for SMEs, following the digital track of the May G7 summit held in Paris.