Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch on Friday, November 13, called on European heads of state and government to act without delay to keep the continent in the artificial intelligence race. His remarks, reported by his entourage to AFP, were made in Dublin, Ireland, during the first European Union summit dedicated to AI. The sector is dominated by the United States and China.
Invited to speak before the leaders gathered in the Irish capital, the head of the French company argued for a common strategy. “Europe has all the necessary technology and talent to take the lead in the artificial intelligence race. What it now needs is speed, funding, and close coordination between member states,” he said.
A Tight Schedule
Arthur Mensch stressed the decisive nature of the period ahead. “The decisions made over the next two years will shape this sector for the coming decade. That is why we are calling on European leaders to act now,” he told representatives of the Twenty-Seven.
The message was aimed at a particular audience. The leaders of the Twenty-Seven were addressing, for the first time this Friday, the full range of challenges posed by artificial intelligence. This first dedicated summit on the subject marks an unprecedented moment for the Union, which is seeking to define its place in a sector where American and Chinese players hold a dominant position.
Between Competitiveness and Protection
The discussion aims to reconcile two imperatives. On one hand, it is about staying in the race against the United States and China. On the other, European leaders want to protect Europe from the dangers posed by this technology. This dual objective places policymakers in a balancing act, with measures designed to support innovation needing to be considered alongside safeguards.
Arthur Mensch’s remarks are a reminder that the debate is not limited to regulation. For the Mistral AI CEO, the questions of funding and coordination between member states are just as crucial as the continent’s technical ability to produce artificial intelligence.
