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The Viva Technology conference in Paris last week was abuzz with discussions about France's rise as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI). French AI firm H received $220 million in funding from investors including Amazon, and U.S. tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon have been investing billions in France. The conference showcased AI innovations from various companies, including French beauty giant L'Oreal. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire emphasized the importance of France developing its own AI, despite the support from U.S. tech giants. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his belief that France is leading the tech industry in Europe but acknowledged the need for more "big players." France aims to become a top five country for AI development, according to Maurice Levy, CEO of Publicis Groupe. However, France faces the challenge of balancing innovation and regulation, with the recent approval of the AI Act by the EU. Some tech executives have expressed concerns that overly restrictive regulation could hinder Europe's AI ambitions.
