France is lagging in AI adoption among its businesses. To address this, the government today launches the “Dare to AI” initiative, a €200 million effort to raise awareness, educate, and fund small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (VSEs).
The Observation: The “French Paradox” of AI
It’s a paradox that the government is eager to solve. On one hand, France is a global leader in artificial intelligence research. On the other hand, its companies, especially the smaller ones, are not harnessing this technology.
Data from BPI France shows a stark reality: only 13% of SMEs and 8% of VSEs have implemented an AI tool. This is half the rate of their German and American counterparts. Worse still, only a third of VSE leaders see AI as a strategic issue.
Raising Awareness and Education: “AI Ambassadors” and the AI Academy
The primary focus of the “Dare to AI” plan, launched this Tuesday, July 1st, at Bercy, is persuasion. To achieve this, the government will deploy 300 “AI ambassadors” (business leaders, experts, public figures) to spread the word across all sectors. Meetings will also be organized at Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Additionally, an “AI Academy” will be established by the end of the year. This will be a free online platform offering courses and tutorials, aiming to educate 15 million professionals by 2030.
€200 Million to Facilitate Investment
To financially encourage companies to take the leap, a fund of €200 million has been allocated. This will particularly co-finance 5,000 “Data-AI diagnostics” to help SMEs identify their needs.
A bank guarantee fund will also be set up to ease loans up to €500,000 for AI-related projects. Additionally, €100 million will be directed towards funding breakthrough innovation projects.
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What’s the Verdict?
The intentions are likely well-meant. The reality of French SMEs falling behind is genuine, and the government has good strategic reasons to be concerned. This plan has the merit of bringing the topic to the forefront and offering tangible tools, particularly in terms of education.
However, this appears to be a very top-down communication plan, typical of bureaucratic execution. The real underlying issue is that many VSEs/SMEs haven’t even begun their basic digital transition.
And let’s be clear, AI isn’t straightforward—it raises significant ecological and ethical questions, and particularly concerns about employment. There’s good reason to tread carefully. Moreover, the €200 million fund, when viewed on a national scale, seems somewhat insufficient to spark a true revolution.
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