Paris plays host to the 2025 AI Action Summit, bringing together world leaders and technology experts to chart the course of global artificial intelligence development. France will see €109 billion invested in AI projects in the coming years, President Emmanuel Macron announced ahead of the two-day event.
Taking place at the city's Grand Palais on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 February, the summit brings together politicians, industry pioneers, academics and policymakers to debate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and its far-reaching implications across society.
According to the Elysée Palace, topics include the role of AI in the workplace, cybersecurity threats, disinformation and the importance of inclusive governance.
Anne Bouverot, France's special envoy for AI, has emphasised the need to transition from voluntary commitments to concrete action regarding AI policy, saying: "We really want to make sure this is not only a conversation for the happy few, but a conversation for all of us ... all the people who want to participate in AI."
Billions invested in France
Investors are to pump 109 billion euros into AI projects in France in the coming years, President Macron said Sunday.
He described the investment as "the equivalent for France of what the US has announced with 'Stargate'," referring to OpenAI’s $500-billion programme.
To promote the summit, Macron posted a series of AI-generated fake videos featuring himself in various roles.
In one scene, he sings a rap song and shows off his moves, channelling French performer Nekfeu.
AI in the workplace
One key issue highlighted by the Paris summit is how to shape the use of AI in the workplace to boost productivity, but maintain human dignity, creativity and wellbeing.
Rémi Rostan, editor in chief of LHC, a magazine devoted to AI, told RFI that it would be a mistake for future employers to simply see AI as a performance booster.
"We need to see [AI] as a lever for rehumanising work. For too long, efficiency has been synonymous with dehumanisation: repetitive tasks, time-consuming reporting, rigid processes," he said. "AI can, on the contrary, refocus human beings on what they do best – thinking, creating and interacting."
He added, however, that such a transformation of the modern workplace will not occur organically.
"We need to support change with a hybrid model: training workers to use AI critically, encouraging a craftsman approach to technology where humans retain control over direction and meaning. A coder becomes the conductor of the AI orchestra, a designer amplifies his vision with generative tools, a journalist concentrates on analysis and narration, leaving the synthesis and secondary tasks to artificial intelligence."
Paris hosts AI summit, with spotlight on innovation, regulation, creativity
World leaders converge
Tuesday will see heads of state meet to address global cooperation over the future of AI, with almost 100 countries represented.
Among those in attendance will be France's President Emmanuel Macron, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance, on his first international trip since taking office.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang is also expected to join the discussions. With one aim of the summit being to discuss how best to hone AI’s benefits for developing nations, cheaper models such as China's DeepSeek will be in the spotlight. Last month, the Hangzhou-based company rocked global markets by showing it could vie with US heavyweights on human-like reasoning technology, at a significantly lower price.
The series of parallel events running in the city will culminate in a dedicated Business Day at Paris's Station F start-up hub on 11 February.
Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors will converge on "the world's largest start-up campus" to explore AI’s role in shaping economies, addressing environmental challenges and safeguarding democratic institutions against digital threats.
EU nations reach landmark agreement on AI regulation
Key principles
At the close of the summit on Tuesday, participants are expected to issue a non-binding statement outlining their key principles for responsible AI development.
One major focus is expected to be ensuring that AI’s benefits extend to developing nations, and that public-interest AI initiatives receive adequate funding.
France, the event’s co-host alongside India, is expected to emphasise the importance of aligning AI's evolution with environmental sustainability, and of clean energy solutions to offset the carbon footprint of AI technology.
