The final countdown has begun for the "AI Action Week", with the Summit (February 10 and 11 at the Grand Palais) as its highlight. As this major event in the tech calendar approaches, Clara Chappaz, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, has provided further details on the government’s objectives for this summit, how French companies will be showcased, and the potential European momentum this gathering could generate.

As the official government representative for the AI Action Summit under Prime Minister François Bayrou, Clara Chappaz identifies three key objectives: societal and cultural, economic, and diplomatic.

Mistral AI, Pigment, and Alan to be at the Grand Palais

The societal and cultural aspect will be emphasised particularly on February 8 and 9, between the scientific days on February 6 and 7 in Paris-Saclay and the Summit itself on February 10 and 11 at the Grand Palais, Paris. These two public days aim to raise awareness about AI’s applications and challenges. In Paris, activities will mainly take place at the François Mitterrand site of the National Library of France (BNF), featuring roundtables and workshops, and at the Conciergerie, which will host art installations and masterclasses by artists.

"One in two people in France has doubts about AI. This summit is an opportunity to demonstrate what AI can bring to our lives and society," says Clara Chappaz.

The second objective, the economic impact, will take center stage at the Grand Palais on February 10 and Station F on February 11. "On February 10, selected French companies will have the chance to interact with top researchers, heads of state, and key decision-makers in the AI world," says the former director of La Mission French Tech. She confirmed that Mistral AI, Pigment, and Alan will be present at the Grand Palais during the summit.

In mid-January, Clara Chappaz had already announced the presence of several major tech figures: Sam Altman (OpenAI), Dario Amodei (Anthropic), Arthur Mensch (Mistral AI), as well as executives from Aleph Alpha, Accenture, Mozilla, and Signal—all of whom have confirmed their participation in this major event in Paris.

For businesses, the real opportunity will be the “Business Day” at Station F on February 11, where over 3,000 participants (startups, SMEs, large corporations) are expected. This will be a platform to showcase use cases, discuss AI adoption strategies, and forge business partnerships. "With this summit, companies will have a chance to showcase their best work. And the best way to support them is by giving them contracts," the minister asserts. She also emphasises that the event will be "a great occasion to announce investment projects."

“Technology has never been this political”

The final key objective is diplomacy. The summit aims to make France the global focal point for AI discussions, at least for a few days. Over 100 heads of state are expected to attend, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will co-chair the summit alongside Emmanuel Macron.

"Technology has never been this political, and the summit comes at a crucial moment," Clara Chappaz observes. Indeed, 2025 has already seen groundbreaking AI developments, such as Donald Trump’s $500B AI mega-plan and the rise of China’s DeepSeek, which can reportedly rival ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost. "These announcements show that the AI race is just beginning. We must not fall into fatalism—nothing is set in stone," she insists.

Within this global AI race, Clara Chappaz sees the summit as perfectly timed. "It’s a major diplomatic event where we can make important decisions. AI reflects different worldviews, and the one we promote in France and Europe—AI that serves everyone and isn’t controlled by just a few players—resonates with many countries, particularly those in the Global South. This summit is an opportunity to bring them on board," she explains.

A crucial session at the Grand Palais on February 11

Diplomatic discussions will take place primarily at the Grand Palais, starting on February 10 with conferences, roundtables, and presentations showcasing AI-driven solutions. Topics will include:

  • AI and the future of work
  • Cybersecurity and disinformation
  • AI governance
  • AI for public good
  • AI risks and challenges
  • Building trustworthy AI

However, February 11 will be the decisive day, featuring a plenary session at the Grand Palais, where heads of state, government leaders, and international figures will gather. They will discuss common global AI strategies, and a Global AI Sustainability Charter might be drafted by the summit’s end. This mirrors elements of a COP for AI, similar to the climate-focused COP summits.

"What we’re organising is a mix of VivaTech, Choose France, and a diplomatic event," summarises Anne Bouverot, special envoy of the French President and chief coordinator of the summit, in an interview with Maddyness.

A milestone event for the Third Phase of France’s AI Strategy

While some details—such as whether Donald Trump or Elon Musk will attend—remain unclear, Clara Chappaz has hinted at major announcements during the summit.

"There will be many announcements, particularly regarding France’s capabilities for training large language models. The summit will also shed more light on the European AI agenda. We’re hearing a new discourse in Europe—though it’s not so new in France—about the race for AI competitiveness," the minister notes.

She references the roadmap unveiled by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who recently promised a “simplification shock” and a “competitiveness compass” to boost European innovation.

Clara Chappaz also mentioned the launch of a dedicated AI foundation at the summit. This initiative aims to develop and promote open-source AI models to ensure AI serves the public good. The French government plans to raise €2.5B over five years, with €500M allocated for 2025. The foundation, possibly based in Paris, will play a central role in the third phase of France’s National AI Strategy, launched by Emmanuel Macron in 2018.

This initiative aligns with Clara Chappaz’s vision for a “third way” in AI, emphasising ethics, sustainability, and inclusivity. Now, the question remains: Will this French vision gain global support at the summit?

Let’s hope the Olympic spirit continues under the Grand Palais dome!