France has unveiled a major artificial intelligence initiative that includes an investment of €655 million ($758.29 million) and the development of a common AI chatbot designed to serve all government services, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and technological independence.
The announcement was made on June 16 by French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ahead of the opening of the Viva Technology (VivaTech) Conference in Paris, one of Europe’s largest technology events.
The French government will invest €655 million in artificial intelligence and establish a unified chatbot platform to support interactions across state services.
As part of the initiative, authorities will also develop a dedicated public health chatbot for Ameli, France’s state-owned health insurance agency. In addition, a new platform will be created to simplify access to public data and improve the delivery of digital government services.
Highlighting the strategic importance of artificial intelligence, Lecornu stated, “We can either be subjected to this (Artificial intelligence) revolution, or we can lead it.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that artificial intelligence is no longer a question of future adoption but of implementation speed across government institutions. He said, “The question is not whether the state will use the artificial intelligence anymore, but the question is how fast will it transform.”
The French government also stressed the importance of technological sovereignty in an increasingly competitive global AI landscape. Lecornu said, “We cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers. France must have its own tools.”
The initiative reflects France’s broader strategy to develop domestic AI capabilities while reducing dependence on foreign technology platforms. Governments across Europe have increasingly focused on building national AI infrastructure and ensuring greater control over critical digital technologies.
The investment comes as countries worldwide accelerate efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into public administration, healthcare and citizen services. France’s plan aims to improve efficiency, accessibility and responsiveness across government departments while fostering innovation within the domestic technology sector.
For India, the announcement is particularly relevant as the country continues expanding AI adoption across governance, healthcare and digital public infrastructure. France’s approach could offer valuable insights into how governments can deploy AI-powered public services while maintaining control over critical technologies and national data resources.
The initiative also underscores the growing global race among nations to establish leadership in artificial intelligence and leverage the technology to modernize public services.
The June 16 announcement positions France among the countries making substantial public-sector investments in AI, with a focus on digital sovereignty, government transformation and citizen-centric innovation.
 and the development of a common AI chatbot designed to serve all government services, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and technological independence.){kind=link}