France has recently set up a committee dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) with the aim of advising the government on decisions related to this technology. This committee, composed of 15 members from the business, research, and administrative sectors, has a clear mission: to develop concrete proposals to adapt the national strategy in this field within a six-month timeframe.

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne had announced the creation of this committee during the Rencontre des entrepreneurs de France (REF), organized by the Mouvement des entreprises de France (Medef). The goal of this initiative is to position France as a leader in the AI revolution.

The government has identified three key priorities for the committee. First, it aims to strengthen training programs to further develop AI talent in France. Second, it seeks to invest in French innovation to enhance its presence on the international stage.

Finally, it aims to establish appropriate regulation for various sectors, thereby safeguarding against potential AI-related issues. The 15 committee members are tasked with formulating concrete proposals to achieve these objectives.

The composition of the committee was unveiled at its launch. It is co-chaired by Philippe Aghion, a professor at the Collège de France and INSEAD, and Anne Bouverot, the chair of the board of directors of the École normale supérieure (ENS).

The committee also includes members from renowned companies, such as Joëlle Barral from Google, Bernard Charlès from Dassault Systèmes, Yann Le Cun from Meta, as well as Arthur Mensch, the founder of Mistral, a startup specializing in generative AI. Other scientific experts, such as Luc Julia, Gaël Varoquaux, and Isabelle Ryl, have also been invited to participate.

It’s worth noting that France formulated its first AI strategy in 2018 under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron. This strategy aimed to position France as a leader in AI, with a focus on areas such as open data, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles.

Since then, the government has invested two billion euros in public-private co-funding for AI training and specialist recruitment in 2021, underscoring its ongoing commitment to this rapidly evolving field.