Jamie Spencer
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €109 billion AI investment plan ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris, as Europe races to compete with the U.S. and China in the fast-growing artificial intelligence industry.
France’s Response to Global AI Competition
Macron’s announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent unveiling of Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure project led by OpenAI and SoftBank. Meanwhile, U.S. tech giants Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have pledged a combined $300 billion in AI investments this year.
China is also making significant strides in AI development, with companies like DeepSeek and Huawei investing heavily in cost-effective models and advanced semiconductor technology.
Key AI Investments in France
To strengthen Europe’s AI capabilities, Macron confirmed several major investments:
- United Arab Emirates: Up to €50 billion to build a new data center campus in France.
- Brookfield Asset Management: Committing €20 billion to support AI infrastructure.
- Current AI Fund: A new €2.5 billion non-profit fund focused on AI for public interest, including €400 million already pledged.
- General Catalyst & Investors: Leading a €150 billion EU AI Champions Initiative to accelerate European AI development.
Europe’s Push for AI Leadership
Macron emphasized that Europe must act quickly to avoid falling behind:
“Europe and France must accelerate their investments.”
To support the initiative, more than 60 European companies—including Volkswagen, Spotify, and Exor—have committed to AI adoption. The AI Action Summit is expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at cutting red tape and simplifying EU AI regulations.
Macron’s Vision for Open AI Platforms
Macron, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to advocate for open AI platforms rather than closed systems built by OpenAI and Google. The summit will highlight France’s support for Mistral, one of the only European companies developing large language models.
With major investments and regulatory changes on the horizon, France is positioning itself as a key player in the global AI race. Macron’s AI strategy aims to ensure that Europe remains competitive in an industry increasingly dominated by the U.S. and China.
