The AI Action Summit in Paris has become a focal point for global leaders and tech executives as they convene to discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Attendees at the summit include high-profile figures such as U.S. Vice President JD Vance, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The summit highlights France's ambitious plans, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing a staggering 109-billion-euro investment in AI from private entities.
The substantial investment aims to bolster France's position in the AI industry, drawing commitments from international players, including investment funds from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Canada, alongside French corporations like Iliad and Orange. Meanwhile, a new joint venture in the United States, dubbed Stargate, involving OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, promises to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure over the next four years.
Debates at the summit also center around DeepSeek's AI model, R1, which has sparked discussions regarding the significant capital expenditures required for its development. The training expenses for DeepSeek's latest model reached $5.6 million, leading to speculation about the company's overall hardware expenditure exceeding $500 million.
"This summit isn't just about AI—it's about influence." – Mike Capone, CEO of U.S. software firm Qlik
The power dynamics within the AI industry extend beyond technological advancements to encompass control over the narrative surrounding AI's development. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis remarked on DeepSeek's model, noting it as impressive work but not a groundbreaking scientific advancement.
"Despite the hype, there's no actual new scientific advance … it's using known techniques." – Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind CEO
"The hype around Deepseek has been 'exaggerated a little bit.'" – Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind CEO
France's AI investment plan includes substantial contributions from companies like Iliad, pledging 3 billion euros towards AI infrastructure. Additionally, Paris-based Mistral plans to establish its own data center in France, further cementing the nation's commitment to becoming an AI powerhouse. The UAE has also announced intentions to invest between 30 billion and 50 billion euros in constructing a one-gigawatt AI data center in France.
Victor Riparbelli, CEO of British AI startup Synthesia, praised Macron's initiative as beneficial for Europe's AI ecosystem. However, he emphasized that more efforts are necessary for Europe to compete with technological giants like the U.S. and China.
"AI diplomacy is now as critical as AI development. The power struggle won't be about who builds the best model; it'll be about who controls the AI narrative." – Mike Capone, CEO of U.S. software firm Qlik
The summit also underscores the absence of key figures such as Elon Musk, highlighting the diverse perspectives shaping the AI discourse. Industry experts anticipate a strategic messaging battle among U.S., French, and UK leaders as they navigate DeepSeek's contributions while China endeavors to assert its leading role in AI development.
"Expect a strategic messaging war as U.S., French, and UK AI leaders downplay DeepSeek's relevance while China works to prove it's not just catching up — it's setting the pace." – Mike Capone, CEO of U.S. software firm Qlik