Altman himself, the general director of Opeli, talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at station F, during the event off the beaten track of the Action of Artificial Intelligence in Paris, France, February 11, 2025.
Aurelien Morissard By Reuters
Paris – the music was moving, and people cheered on Monday at the top of artificial intelligence in Paris Emmanuel Macron The declared France is “returning to the AI race”.
A bold connection appears Macron advertised an investment by EUR 109 billion ($ 112.8 billion) in AI in the country. But it also emphasizes Europe's desire, conducted by France, to be part of a conversation about the leadership and innovation of AI, which until now dominated the US and China.
Last month, America $ 500 billion The advertisement appeared on the headlines around the world, and then the AI Deepseek model, which he sent Shock waves on financial markets And he emphasized China's ability to keep the surgery in the USA.
Europe has long been considering its critics as a place that was too much regulated by the technology industry to the detriment of innovation.
Although this image has not been completely changed, there are some in the technology industry who believe that Europe is moving in the right direction.
“At least as a European region, we begin to see how global leaders emerge and we really need it,” said CNBC Victor Riparbelli, general director of the Video Synthesia Synthesia Video company, in an interview on Monday.
There are many key companies in Europe, from the independent start of technology in Great Britain to the rival of Mistral Opeli in France.
“So I think it's great, that we invest more in infrastructure. I don't think this is the only solution to the problem. … but I think it is really great, that there is a political will to do something, “added Rirparbella.
“Fork on the road”
Last year, economist and politician Mario Draghi published a report This called for a larger investment in the European Union in order to increase competitiveness.
The Draghhi report noticed that there are innovative ideas, but startups “do not translate the innovation into commercialization, and innovative companies that want to scale in Europe are difficult at every stage by inconsistent and restrictive regulations.”
Chris Lehane, the main officer of global matters at Openai, said CNBC on Monday that based on his experience at the top of AI, there is a tension between Europe at the EU level and countries.
“You can understand that there is almost this fork on the road, maybe even the tension between Europe at the EU level, which looks at a rather significant, heavier regulatory approach. And then some of the countries, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, although not technically the EU, certainly European, may perhaps in a different direction, which he actually wants to accept innovations, “said Lehane CNBC.
He said the previous peaks of AI run by Great Britain And South Korea focused on safety around AI, but the Parisian edition has a change of tone.
“I think that at this conference you are starting to see a different definition or considering that maybe a greater risk is lacking in such a possibility,” added Lehane.
Europe “Judge”
Despite this, the image of Europe was not shocked as a burdensome technology regulation place.
. I have an act It was the first important law in the world in which you can enter into force of artificial intelligence in 2024. It was criticized by companies, as well as individual countries such as France, which stated that the regulations could suppress innovation.
“One of the metaphors that I sometimes use, looking at artificial intelligence as a football match of the World Cup between the USA and China. And if all of Europe is trying to do it, there is a judge, there are two problems. One, they never win, and two or two, nobody really likes a judge: “Reid Hoffman, co -founder of LinkedIn and investor of the Venture Capital Greylock company, said CNBC on Monday.
Christel Heyyemann, General Director of the Telecommunications Company OrangeCNBC said in an interview on Tuesday that there are too many regulations in Europe.
“It slows us down, especially when you think about the potential European market,” said Heyyemann.
However, she deleted the optimistic tone of Europe's position on AI.
I don't think it is a race between the USA and China after all. Actually President of the European Commission It was very bright, Europe wants to be a continent of AI, and the race is not over yet – added Heyyemann.