March 26, 2024
  • Rakuten France S.A.S.
  • La villa numeris

Making AI a National Priority: Key Recommendations from La villa numeris

- In an ever-changing world where artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are playing an increasingly prominent role, it's urgent to make AI culture a priority, in France and in Europe. While the AI Commission recently submitted its report to the French President, La villa numeris calls for the necessary structuring of the European AI ecosystem, as well as the creation of a European giant in the field, in its plea “For AI with positive impact”.

Paris, March 26, 2024 - La villa numeris has set up a working group headed by Fabien Versavau, CEO of Rakuten France and Executive Officer of Rakuten Group, alongwith Marie-Aude Aufaure for the coordination and drafting of the plea, with the participation of Judith Andrès, executive head media & Digital chair at ESSEC Business School, Terence Cabot, partner at Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats, Ysens de France, PhD in international public law, specializing in land-based military robotics, Guy Mamou-Mani, founder of Groupe Open and Maurice N'Diaye, founder of Descartes & Mauss. La villa numeris also interviewed a wide range of experts, including scientists, philosophers, data / AI or innovation directors, union leaders and professors, who shared their visions of AI with positive impact, synthesized in this plea.

Making AI culture a national priority
Beyond mastering the technical tool - which is certainly essential - the report puts forward several proposals to democratize access to AI in France, as these technologies can have positive impacts in many areas of society, such as health and the environment. These include developing a critical and analytical mindset, as well as taking into account the crucial role of the educational world in this area. The creation of digital modules from secondary school onwards, and the launch of free introductory AI courses from a very early age, are proposed. The State could also set up a website dedicated to AI, to inform the general public and economic players.

For La villa numeris, AI can also be a lever in the fight against illectronism among the French population: “Generative AI tools are accessible to all, without the need for programming, and constitute an amazing knowledge base. A major acculturation effort is needed to avoid a new digital divide, and enable all citizens to have the cards in their hands to play a full role in our society, and participate in this new global conversation”, points out Fabien Versavau, CEO of Rakuten France and Executive Officer of the Rakuten Group, who led the work.

Structuring the AI ecosystem and creating a European giant: a strategic imperative
By structuring the ecosystem and taking a multi-stakeholder approach, we need to ask ourselves the right questions about usage: does it save time? Do they save business? What impact do they have on recruitment? On the organization's carbon footprint? To better answer these questions, and achieve responsible AI, the members of the working group propose the integration of specialists in these technologies into company COMEXs, to facilitate the appropriation of these tools by economic players.

Looking beyond France, La villa numeris advocates the creation of a European AI giant: “A substantial group of European companies working together on a common project can make this happen. This spearhead could take the form of a European digital giant through a consortium of different countries”, proposes the plea.

AI as a factor in a new geopolitical order
The villa numeris report also points out that the political sovereignty and power of states will be eroded by the advance of AI technologies. Indeed, these technologies have the potential to redefine geopolitical balances, by weakening states.

“AI is a tool of power that can influence the international order, giving states less power. They nibble away at the regalian functions of the State little by little, weakening States and their authority” analyze the authors of the report.

In the run-up to the European elections, it therefore becomes imperative for Europe to take bold and concerted action to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities offered by AI, in order to remain competitive on the international stage, but also to guarantee a prosperous and inclusive future for its citizens.

David Lacombled, President of La villa numeris: “We encourage the development of legislative frameworks adapted to the rapid evolution of AI - neither too much nor too little - that can both stimulate innovation and prevent potential risks. Europe stands out for its concern for human beings. In this, it can serve as a model. AI with positive impact is a vector for societal, economic and environmental progress. We call for collective action by governments, businesses and civil society to achieve this ambitious goal.”

Fabien Versavau, CEO of Rakuten France and Executive Officer of Rakuten Group, who led the working group: “By collaborating with La villa numeris and all the participants in the working group, we are calling for collective action to shape an AI ecosystem that benefits everyone. This construction must be collective and inclusive, from Europe to the State, from citizens to companies. Working towards more flexible regulation does not mean cutting back on our values - on the contrary, curbing innovation would be even more deleterious to their promotion.”

To access the full plea, click here.

About La villa numeris
La villa numeris is a think tank founded in 2014 and chaired by David Lacombled. It promotes an open European digital development model affirming the primacy of the human. Its mission: to enable decision-makers to understand and anticipate, act accordingly, raise awareness and mobilize to give meaning to organizations.

About Rakuten France
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