France Urges Faster AI Push Despite Safety Risks

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure has pushed back against calls to slow artificial intelligence development, arguing that such proposals could benefit U.S. technology leaders while making it harder for France and Europe to close the AI gap.

Speaking on Wednesday at an event in Paris organized by French startup lobby France Digitale, Lescure said Europe should instead accelerate AI adoption and development while strengthening its ability to manage emerging risks.

“I can clearly see that the calls to slow down are now coming from those at the top of the class,” Lescure told Reuters. He suggested that slowing global AI development could help existing leaders preserve their advantage over competitors.

Lescure said his priority was for France and the broader European Union to increase their AI ambitions, become a major player in the technology and develop the expertise needed to address potential dangers.

His comments come amid a growing debate over AI safety and the rapid advancement of increasingly powerful models. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for a slowdown in AI development, citing concerns that include the possibility of humans losing control of advanced AI systems.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also expressed support for carefully pacing AI development. The debate intensified after Anthropic researchers raised concerns about potentially severe risks from rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

Lescure, however, cautioned against making definitive predictions about AI posing an existential threat to humanity. He argued that sweeping statements about the technology’s future could distract from the shared responsibility of governments, companies and society to manage AI responsibly.

While advocating faster AI development in France and Europe, Lescure acknowledged that the technology carries significant risks. He specifically pointed to cybersecurity and education as areas where AI implementation could create challenges.

His position highlights Europe’s effort to balance AI innovation with safety as the region competes with U.S. technology companies. Lescure argued that expanding Europe’s AI capabilities would also give policymakers and businesses greater ability to understand, regulate and mitigate the technology’s risks.