PARIS, Feb 10 (Reuters) – Europe will scale back regulatory hurdles to foster artificial intelligence (AI) growth, French President Emmanuel Macron announced at an AI summit in Paris on Monday. Macron urged increased investment in the European Union (EU), particularly in France, to drive AI innovation.
EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen echoed Macron’s sentiments, promising that the bloc will simplify its AI regulations and implement them as business-friendly.
With U.S. President Donald Trump dismantling previous AI regulations to enhance U.S. competitiveness, the EU faces mounting pressure to adopt a more flexible regulatory approach to stay competitive in the global AI race.
A “Notre-Dame” Approach to AI Regulation
“We will simplify,” Macron stated. “It’s very clear we have to resynchronize with the rest of the world.”
Macron proposed a similar fast-track regulatory framework for AI, drawing a parallel to the expedited reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral following its devastating fire. ” The Notre Dame approach will be adopted for data centers, market authorizations, and AI development to enhance attractiveness,” he said.
The AI summit, held at the Grand Palais venue, transitioned into a vibrant, nightclub-style atmosphere after Macron’s address, with a DJ playing music and slogans like “Let’s innovate” and “Free yourself” lighting up the venue.
Diverging AI Strategies and Calls for Leniency
The conference underscored the stark contrast in AI regulatory strategies among the U.S., China, and the EU. Many attendees urged the EU to adopt a more flexible stance.
“Europe’s productivity is dependent on using this emerging technology,” said Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. He advocated for developing AI innovation ecosystems, citing France as a model. “How do we create more of these pockets in more places?” he asked.
Virkkunen acknowledged industry concerns, stating, “I agree with industries that we must review our rules. We have too much overlapping regulation.” She pledged to “cut red tape and reduce the administrative burden on industries.”
The EU’s AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, was approved last year.
Investment Commitments and Global Cooperation
France is pushing for a joint, non-binding agreement at the summit, emphasizing that the AI revolution should be inclusive and sustainable. However, it remains unclear whether the United States will endorse such an initiative. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to outline the American stance during his speech on Tuesday.
Macron announced private sector AI investments in France totalling approximately 109 billion euros ($113 billion). Among them, French startup Mistral will open a data centre in the greater Paris region. Clem Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face, a U.S.-based open-source AI hub with French roots, welcomed the investment. “This reassures us that ambitious AI projects will take shape in France,” he said.
Additionally, the summit saw the launch of Current AI, a coalition of countries including France and Germany, along with industry leaders like Google and Salesforce. With an initial $400 million in funding and an aim of reaching $2.5 billion over five years, Current AI will spearhead public-interest AI projects, including making high-quality AI data available and advancing open-source tools.
“A public-interest focus is necessary to prevent AI from repeating the mistakes of social media,” said Current AI founder Martin Tisné. “We must learn from past experiences.”
Concerns Over Risks and Worker Protections
Despite the enthusiasm for AI deregulation, some attendees expressed concerns. “What I worry about is that there will be pressure from the U.S. and other stakeholders to weaken the EU’s AI Act and dilute existing protections,” said Brian Chen, policy director at Data & Society, a U.S.-based nonprofit.
Labour leaders also raised alarms over AI’s impact on employment, questioning the fate of workers displaced by AI and their transition into potentially less secure jobs.
The Paris AI Summit runs from February 10-11, with further discussions expected on AI governance, investment, and regulatory frameworks.
