France Ranks Among Global Leaders in AI Adoption, Microsoft Report Finds
PARIS – France has secured a position among the top five nations worldwide for artificial intelligence adoption, boasting an installed data center capacity of 11.9 gigawatts, according to a new report from Microsoft. While trailing the United states (53.7 GW) and China (31.9 GW),France surpasses countries like Japan and the United Kingdom in its AI infrastructure. This achievement comes as concerns mount over a concentrated global AI ecosystem and potential technological dependencies.
The Microsoft report underscores a critical imbalance: 86% of global computing capacity linked to AI is currently located in the US and China. this dominance raises the specter of increased technological reliance for other regions, and highlights the urgency for France and Europe to not only accelerate AI research but also ensure widespread and equitable access to its applications. The central question, the report concludes, has shifted from ”who invents AI?” to “who benefits from it?”
Beyond infrastructure, the report identifies linguistic factors as key to AI adoption. While AI models are largely optimized for English, the French language possesses sufficient digital portrayal to support implementation. However, countries with languages underrepresented in digital datasets – such as Laos or Malawi – experience substantially lower AI usage rates, irrespective of economic status or internet connectivity.
A widening digital divide is also apparent geographically,with AI usage in the “Global North” approximately twice as high as in the “Global South.” Microsoft warns this disparity risks creating a new technological gap, leaving regions lacking energy, infrastructure, or training marginalized.
For France, the challenge lies in solidifying its research and infrastructure base while simultaneously fostering the integration of AI into businesses, public services, and civil society.This dual focus is crucial to ensuring the nation – and its citizens – reap the benefits of this rapidly evolving technology.
