French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the government will invest €655 million ($758.29 million) in artificial intelligence (AI) and develop a common chatbot platform for use across all state services, marking a major step in France’s digital transformation strategy.
As part of the initiative, the French government will also launch a public health chatbot for Ameli, the country's state-owned health insurance agency.
The chatbot is expected to improve citizen access to healthcare information and streamline interactions with public services.
Lecornu emphasized the strategic importance of AI in shaping the future of government operations and public administration. In a post on X, he said France faces a critical choice in the global AI race.
“We can either be subjected to this revolution, or we can lead it,” he wrote, highlighting the need for France to take an active role in developing and deploying AI technologies.
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Speaking about the government's digital modernization plans, Lecornu said the debate is no longer about whether public institutions should adopt AI, but rather how quickly they can transform themselves through the technology.
“The question is not whether the state will use artificial intelligence anymore, but the question is how fast it will transform,” he said.
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The prime minister also stressed the importance of technological sovereignty, arguing that France should not become dependent on AI tools developed abroad.
“We cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers. France must have its own tools,” Lecornu said, underscoring the government's commitment to building domestic AI capabilities.
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The announcement comes as Paris prepares to host the VivaTech conference, one of Europe’s largest technology events, where AI is expected to be a central theme. The investment reflects France’s broader ambition to strengthen its position as a leading AI hub in Europe while ensuring that public services benefit from advances in emerging technologies.