For several years now, the AI revolution has been underway: Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini… Numerous solutions now exist to simplify our daily lives, including in the workplace. However, many of these solutions belong to foreign giants. Can France make its mark and offer solutions that stand out? This was the subject of the roundtable we had the opportunity to participate in at the BiG DATA & AI 2025 exhibition, co-hosted by Delphine Remy-Boutang, CEO of JFD; Ines Besbes, CEO of Seedext; François Vimond, our CRO; and Emilie Pierre-Desmonde, Director of the BiG DATA & AI PARIS exhibition.

“It’s now or never to launch an AI company in France” - Ines Besbes

What is sovereignty? 

We hear the word sovereignty more and more often, but what are we actually talking about? Sovereignty means controlling your entire chain from end to end, as well as your data, without foreign intervention. 

Where does France stand on sovereignty and AI? 

Ines from Seedext explains that sovereignty is a real opportunity when launching a solution; in fact, more and more companies want to work with French players and build local partnerships. However, it can become a hurdle when expanding internationally, as some foreign competitors are particularly aggressive. But according to our CRO, François, France has strong players, especially for solving specific business challenges that don't necessarily require the power of foreign giants. Furthermore, SMEs can now easily access all-in-one platforms. It is better to bet on useful AI rather than just powerful AI. 

What actions are being taken? 

For Delphine, sovereignty is not just the concern of a few large companies. Everyone must be concerned and strive to remain competitive against major Chinese or American players, for example. To achieve autonomy, solutions are emerging, such as the France 2030 plan: a strategy implemented to facilitate the development of French companies, notably through tax cuts or fiscal measures that promote competitiveness. Or “Osez l’IA” (Dare to use AI), a plan to spread AI across all companies, particularly SMEs, through awareness, training, and support. Indeed, nearly 90% of companies want to scale up their AI use; the question remains whether they will turn to French solutions. 

Does competitiveness necessarily mean low prices?  

Ines points out that sovereign offerings are not necessarily the most attractive in terms of price, with a premium of about 30% to be expected in the long term. Moreover, French and European tools must be able to integrate with American tools, which now hold a monopoly. According to François, competitiveness is not just about price; it is multifactorial. It can, for example, be based on trust (with strong data security) or on frugality, addressing environmental or economic concerns. The challenge for French and European players lies primarily in the ability to host their own models so as not to depend on large foreign structures. 

What is the future of digital sovereignty?  

Delphine advises SMEs to be demanding when selecting their partners. Sovereignty should be a hallmark, and Europe should be recognized for its specialized models and innovative companies. “It’s now or never to launch an AI company in France,” Ines emphasizes. Companies want to collaborate with local players, and many challenges can be solved with sometimes very simple models. 

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