Sovereign AI: Strategic Autonomy in the Digital Age

French AI strategy emphasizes strategic autonomy—the ability to develop and deploy AI independently. This doesn't mean isolation but ensuring France isn't dependent on others for critical AI capabilities. This sovereignty concern, consistent with French strategic thinking, shapes policy and investment.

The Jean Zay supercomputer provides sovereign computing infrastructure for AI research. Rather than depending entirely on American cloud providers, France ensures domestic capacity for training large models. This infrastructure investment enables research that might be impossible otherwise.

Attempts to create French cloud champions have mixed results, but the direction is clear. OVHcloud positions itself as a European alternative for AI workloads. While competing with hyperscalers is challenging, having alternatives for sensitive applications matters. French companies increasingly recognize sovereignty's importance.

Military AI receives significant attention. Florence Parly, as Defense Minister, launched the Defense AI Agency to ensure French military AI capabilities. From autonomous systems to intelligence analysis, military applications drive AI development while raising ethical questions France actively addresses.