02-12-2024
MEETING WITH CLARA CHAPPAZ, MINISTER OF STATES FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL AFFAIRS.
by MerciSF. Special thanks to Sabrina Bot and Vanessa Lotoux-Macias.
Appointed last September as Secretary of State in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz was in San Francisco to prepare for the AI Action Summit, scheduled for February 10-11, 2025, in France, and to meet key players in the Bay.
MerciSF had the opportunity to speak with her during an evening organized by the French Consulate General and La French Tech San Francisco, where she shared her vision of a French “third way” in artificial intelligence and addressed critical issues related to AI safety, ethics, and inclusivity.
Her arrival in San Francisco was marked by an anecdote about a customs officer who said to her: “Welcome to the United States, Madam Minister, but please make sure AI doesn’t take my job,” illustrating to her one of the major concerns surrounding AI deployment.
Building user trust while fostering innovation is at the heart of her approach, aiming to encourage a responsible and informed adoption of AI.
“France's 'third way' in artificial intelligence is based on a collective and inclusive approach, aiming to create ethical, sustainable AI that serves the common good, where technology becomes a shared resource for humanity.”
MerciSF: What does this “third way” proposed by France in AI mean compared to the American and Chinese models?
Clara Chappaz: France’s “third way” in artificial intelligence is based on a collective and inclusive approach, going beyond a purely market-driven logic.
This vision focuses on creating a more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI, aimed at serving the common good and equitably distributing the benefits of technology.
The AI Action Summit, scheduled for February 10-11, 2025, in France, will bring together heads of state, companies, scientists, and experts to discuss concrete commitments on data access, shared governance, responsible model building, and the adoption of AI across society.
This approach seeks to create technology that benefits everyone, particularly in countries most in need.
The “third way” reflects a vision of AI grounded in ethics and international cooperation, avoiding a narrow focus on either market interests or regulatory constraints. It invites a rethinking of how AI can serve as a lever to build a more inclusive and sustainable world, where technology becomes a shared resource for humanity.
MerciSF: In a global context where AI regulation is crucial, what are the major initiatives you are championing to ensure more ethical and responsible AI development? Is an international initiative to regulate AI being developed ahead of the AI Summit?
CC: AI regulation is essential to establish a framework of trust that allows adoption without stifling innovation. France supports a balanced approach, with initiatives like the AI Safety Institutes, voluntarily created by several countries to complement formal regulation. Regulation must adapt to the rapid evolution of technology, avoiding obstacles to innovation. For example, discussions are underway about criteria for categorizing models, such as computing power, to ensure relevant and flexible regulation.
At the international level, harmonized governance is indispensable to avoid fragmented rules that would complicate corporate compliance.
The European Union plays a key role with its regulatory framework on AI, but global discussions, notably during the AI Action Summit, aim to define common standards for worldwide adoption.
The objective is to streamline processes and support innovation while addressing ethical and safety issues and enabling inclusive and responsible adoption of this transformative technology.
MerciSF: What are the priorities of your visit to the San Francisco area and the key players you are meeting in preparation for the AI Summit?
CC: My visit focuses on three priorities. First, I am examining AI safety at the AI Safety Institutes meeting, created during the Seoul Summit, to understand advances in this field and strengthen international collaborations.
My second priority is to meet with local American companies working on deploying AI technologies (OpenAI, Google, Meta, Nvidia, Adobe…) to understand their scientific reflections and roadmap progress.
The goal is also to gather their perspective on Europe and discuss their development plans in our region, while engaging with investors (VCs like A16z, Sequoia, Plug & Play…) on France’s strengths in AI and ways to enhance our attractiveness.
Finally, I am focusing on the concrete adoption of AI in key sectors such as health, education, and, of course, daily business operations to improve productivity. My goal is to identify the most effective use cases and best practices to accelerate the global deployment of AI in line with the ambitions of the future AI Action Summit.
MerciSF: How has France enhanced its attractiveness and how does it promote innovation, particularly in AI?
CC: Over the past seven years, France has implemented pro-business policies, becoming, for the fourth consecutive year, the most attractive European country for foreign investments. Several mechanisms have been put in place to attract foreign investments and support innovative startups in France.
This includes measures such as a 30% flat tax, the reduction of corporate tax from 33% to 25%, and the research tax credit, which attract both companies and talent. We have talents, but also mechanisms to reduce costs for hiring these talents, which explains the dynamic startup ecosystem we have in France.
The national AI strategy, launched in 2018 with a budget of 2.5 billion euros, strengthens research, excellence in mathematics education, funding, and infrastructure—because you can’t develop AI technology without computers (e.g., the Jean Zay supercomputer) or data centers, with a focus on transferring technologies developed in labs to the private sector. This framework supports innovations and the adoption of AI in key sectors like healthcare, education, and business productivity.
“Today, France is recognized not just for its iconic baguettes, berets, and handbags, but also as a major player in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence.”
MerciSF: What is France’s vision and approach to support AI adoption and make it more inclusive?
CC: AI adoption is now a priority to accelerate its impact across different sectors. We help companies identify relevant use cases, whether it’s improving productivity, advancing medical research, or supporting education. For example, the AI Booster program supports small businesses in integrating AI, even without internal expertise.
Inclusion is also at the heart of our initiatives, with efforts to democratize access to AI through open-source standards, shared infrastructure, and actions like the AI cafés, aimed at raising public awareness of its benefits.
AI can also reduce digital barriers by making tools more accessible, for instance through voice commands or assistants that enable creation without technical expertise.
At the same time, we support a fair transition in the job market: while AI promises to create more jobs than it eliminates, it requires a transformation of skills. This involves educational initiatives to train workers and students to effectively use these new technologies, helping them adapt to this revolution.
MerciSF: As a female leader in a still predominantly male industry, what are your observations and your vision for advancing gender parity in the tech industry?
CC: The tech world remains largely male-dominated, and having worked in this sector for a decade has often exposed me to this reality. Being the only woman in important meetings or observing that companies led by women capture less than 2% of global funding are concerning facts. However, we can act to change this, notably by supporting initiatives like the Pacte Parité, which already commits 700 companies to improve their recruitment, visibility, and inclusive environment practices.
But the real challenge starts upstream: encouraging girls to pursue scientific and technical fields. In France, we launched the Tech for All program with former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to raise awareness from an early age about these fields that have a major societal impact and offer excellent professional opportunities.
More diversity means better products and more successful companies. By working with schools, businesses, and research, we must continue to pave the way so that more women dare to and can truly engage in the tech world.
Back to news