Artificial Intelligence in France: Do we believe in it or not?
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 22
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FRANCE: A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE Emmanuel Macron announced an investment of 109 billion euros for the development of artificial intelligence in France
An ambition declared by Emmanuel Macron 🇫🇷
On February 11, 2025, Emmanuel Macron announced a massive investment of €109 billion to strengthen France's position in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This announcement marks a strategic turning point: making France a key player in AI at the European level. But in a race dominated by the United States and China , can France still catch up?
Opportunities to seize for France 🚀
Stimulating innovation through infrastructure 🏗️
The creation of 35 data center sites is a key driver. Among the flagship projects is the announcement of a €20 billion investment by the Canadian fund Brookfield to build a data center in Cambrai . This infrastructure will allow local businesses to access greater computing power , fostering technological competitiveness .
Developing the talents of tomorrow 🎓
The government plans to train 100,000 young people each year in AI-related professions. This is a crucial strategic priority to address the skills shortage in this field. The goal is to create a pool of qualified talent capable of fueling the French innovation ecosystem.
Regulating to guide progress ⚖️
The rapid development of AI raises ethical and regulatory questions . France must establish clear governance , guaranteeing:
The protection of personal data
The integrity of algorithmic systems
Transparency in the use of AI
Without a robust regulatory framework, growth could run up against a wall of social distrust.
The potential winners of French AI 🏆
Several French companies can come out on top:
Mistral AI : A promising young company in the development of generative AI solutions.
Dataiku : Provider of an AI integration platform for large companies.
BlaBlaCar : Uses AI to optimize its matching and prediction algorithms.
Algolia : Offers artificial intelligence-based search solutions for e-commerce and databases.
These companies could directly benefit from public aid and infrastructure currently under development.
Evevest's opinion on AI investment đź§
At Evvest , we believe in the opportunities offered by AI, but we remain cautious about individual stock picking . Our strategy is based on international diversification , in order to limit risks specific to a company or market.
The development of a French technology hub is a positive sign for the national economy. It remains to be seen whether French tech companies will be strong enough to be included in major stock market indices .
Today, the CAC 40 remains heavily concentrated on luxury goods , with only 4% allocated to tech , compared to over 32% for the S&P 500. This clearly shows the gap that needs to be closed.
Conclusion: Believe in French AI, but invest methodically đź“Š
The Macron government's initiative opens up promising prospects for the French technology ecosystem. Training, innovation, and infrastructure are in place. However, it will still take time before these efforts translate into a truly visible stock market presence .
At Evevest , we continue to closely monitor developments in French tech, while maintaining a prudent and global allocation to capture trends without overexposing ourselves to a single market.
