Macron defends economic framework for AI, warns against taxing success

French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly defended the nation's economic strategy for fostering artificial intelligence and innovation. Speaking at the Élysée Palace during a reception celebrating the 10th anniversary of the VivaTech trade show, Macron urged stakeholders to protect the existing macroeconomic framework.

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We have managed to build a relevant ecosystem, culture, and macroeconomic framework. We must not let it be dismantled, neither in the budget debates of the coming months, nor in the debates of the next presidential election.

Macron specifically targeted politicians who, he argued, express support for AI and startups while simultaneously planning to "tax success" and capital. He warned against dismantling the ecosystem built to encourage investment, particularly as debates around the next budget and presidential election approach. The president cautioned against returning to a national mindset that "is ashamed of risk" and criticizes those who achieve success.

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I hear everyone now coming to the aid of AI, of formidable startups... But the same ones who say 'it's great'... they will come back saying that success must be taxed, that capital must be taxed.

Amidst global shifts in AI access, such as the US temporarily restricting foreign access to certain AI tools, Macron emphasized the need for France and Europe to develop an "independent strategy" with a "European preference." He stressed that this approach is crucial for geopolitical positioning, advocating for a policy of "buying European, building European" to preserve or regain independence.

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Behind all this, it is a real geopolitical strategy that we are pursuing.

Macron also announced that he has instructed the government to expedite the France 2030 investment program. He plans to appoint an expert group to define new strategic directions for the program by autumn, including identifying further "new investments of the future."

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We must, everywhere, buy European, build European, and that is how we will preserve our independence or regain it.