Latest news with #CurrentAI
Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Signs AI MOU, Leads AI Revolution in Africa
Rabat — Morocco announced a groundbreaking partnership with Current AI during the country's first National AI Summit, marking a major step toward establishing ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Africa. Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni signed a memorandum of understanding with Current AI, backed by significant government funding, making Morocco a founding member of the global initiative that aims to put AI technology to work for the common good. Current AI launched in Paris last February with $400 million in initial funding from the French government, AI Collaborative organization, and various governments, philanthropic partners, and leading companies. The partnership focuses on developing open, inclusive AI systems guided by strong ethical principles. 'We take pride in welcoming Morocco as a founding member and formalizing our shared commitment to open, inclusive AI guided by values,' said Martin Tisne, president of Current AI's steering committee. Tisne noted that this partnership strengthens collaboration between Morocco and Current AI while supporting a broader movement for ethical AI rooted in local values, languages, and histories. Seghrouchni stressed Morocco's vision for AI as a tool for progress rather than inequality. 'AI opens tremendous opportunities to modernize our societies within an ethical and inclusive model that embraces our rich local characteristics,' she said. During the summit in Rabat, Seghrouchni outlined Morocco's ambitious plans to become Africa's digital hub, calling for a clear, structured collaboration to make AI a driver of sustainable and sovereign development across the continent. The North African country is set to participate in Current AI's constitutional general assembly this month, cementing its founding member status. The government's financial commitment is designed to support pilot programs focusing on linguistic diversity, health, and accountability. Morocco's AI ecosystem currently suffers from scattered initiatives lacking coordination and a shared vision, Seghrouchni said, urging the need for streamlined efforts based on trust and excellence, with crystal-clear objectives to face international competitiveness. Morocco is breaking away from traditional patterns of technological dependence, adopting ambitions that go beyond its borders. The country aims to lead African AI cooperation and create multilateral partnerships in the field. Morocco asserts its commitment to bringing a structured African voice to worldwide conversations about AI regulation, innovation, and responsible use. AI: a catalyst for social and cultural transformation Seghrouchni argued that AI represents more than economic opportunity — it serves as a catalyst for social and cultural transformation. 'These [AI technologies] are subjects with tremendous added value for Morocco, for the economy, but also for society,' she explained. This partnership positions Morocco at the forefront of Africa's digital transformation while establishing the foundation for coherent, inclusive digital sovereignty that remains open to global collaboration. Tags: AI in Moroccoartificial intelligencedigital transformationMorocco
Arab News
19-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
AI will reshape France's relations with the Middle East
The relationship between France and the Middle East has seen centuries of trade, political ties and cultural exchanges. Even in the postcolonial era, France remains closely linked to the region, as economic and political developments on one side inevitably impact the other. In recent years, this relationship has primarily comprised trade and investment, counterterrorism, energy partnerships and migration. This historic relationship is now turning a new page. In line with the global enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and its transformative role in economic advancement, France is ramping up cooperation with its Middle East and North Africa partners in the field of AI, a priority area of French government policy. This month alone, France has hosted the AI Action Summit, launched the third phase of its National AI Strategy and established the National Institute for the Evaluation and Security of Artificial Intelligence. While the strategy, part of France 2030, aims to strengthen France's economic and technological sovereignty, leverage AI for social good and develop high-performance computing clusters, the institute will promote scientific research on AI, particularly its security implications. The AI Action Summit hosted by the French government last week made it clear that France is on the hunt for international partners as it advances in this field. The most notable outcome was an investment of up to €50 billion ($52 billion) by the UAE toward the creation of a 1-gigawatt AI data center in France. This campus will be the largest in Europe dedicated to AI. It can significantly enhance the ongoing efforts made by the French private and public sectors for the adoption of AI through entrepreneurship and education. Meanwhile, Morocco this month became one of eight international partners to join France in the launch of the Current AI public-private initiative that aims to raise $2.5 billion over the next five years to promote innovation in AI and assess its social and environmental impact. This is in line with a declaration of intent signed last October to establish a Franco-Moroccan Research Centre for the study of AI, big data and cybersecurity. It was signed during a visit to Morocco by French President Emmanuel Macron, which was heralded as the start of a new era of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is clear that AI will be a key area of cooperation. The AI Action Summit made it clear that France is on the hunt for international partners as it advances in this field These developments build on existing French cooperation with the region. France and Qatar have agreed to jointly explore the potential to enhance their naval capabilities through AI technologies and unmanned systems. France and Turkiye are cooperating on research on AI and emerging technologies through the Bosphorus Programme, which is jointly run by French institutions and Turkiye's Scientific and Technological Research Council. The French private sector is also a key player in French cooperation with the region. For instance, Mistral AI has attracted investments from the Saudi Public Investment Fund's Sanabil and the UAE's DAMAC Group. However, despite such strong investments and partnerships, France faces the challenges of talent acquisition, competition from global AI powerhouses and regulatory constraints. To emerge as a leader in AI, France must continue fostering public-private and international partnerships, attract top talent and promote ethical and sustainable uses of the technology. This is where partnering with the MENA region may offer a solution. The UAE's proposed investment of up to €50 billion is critical for the flailing French economy, which requires support to generate employment, build infrastructure and regain the confidence of international investors. Investments in AI will also benefit other key sectors of the state, including defense, healthcare and education, while promoting French entrepreneurship in this field. The latest agreements also point toward a critical juncture in French-Middle East relations. France and its European partners have historically invested their economic resources and technical expertise in the region to build manufacturing and energy industries. Today, the Middle East is in a position to support France financially and through intellectual partnerships. Today, the Middle East is in a position to support France financially and through intellectual partnerships The UAE has been notably successful in building its domestic AI capabilities — robust local large language models, dedicated funds for investment in AI and the world's first minister of AI are some indicators of this success. International attention has rightly turned toward the Gulf state, and indeed the broader region, due to its role in the growth of AI through financing and as a geostrategic location for hosting AI infrastructure. This shift in position highlights the mutual dependence of France and its partners in the Middle East. Cooperation between the two sides is crucial for the economic and technological future of both, especially in the fields of climate action, smart cities, trade, education and counterterrorism. By working toward the sustainable adoption of AI in key industries, France and its partners in the region are well placed to emerge as global leaders in AI, while adding a new layer and nuance to their bilateral cooperation. On a broader level, the latest investments and the launch of Current AI confirm that the Global South is integral to Europe's AI journey. - Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid
Euronews
11-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Here's what has been announced at the AI Action Summit
It's been a busy week in Paris as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit ramps up. The two-day summit brought together global leaders, technology industry executives, and scientists to discuss AI's impact on international security, economics, and governance. The summit, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, takes place as countries such as the US and China race for AI dominance. The event is also an occasion to announce new partnerships, foundations, and projects. Euronews Next takes a look at some of the major announcements that have come in the last few days ahead and during the AI Action Summit. €150 billion for 'AI Champions' A group of 20 major corporations, firms, and startups rallied behind a plan to invest €150 billion in European AI over the next five years. The initiative, led by venture capitalist firm General Catalyst, wants to bridge the gap between investors and startups to 'unlock Europe's full potential in AI'. The group will also be working with the European Commission to 'create a drastically simplified AI regulatory framework,' with a discussion set with 'a select group of CEOs,' to start strategising on accelerating AI adoption. "Europe can seize a generational opportunity by leading in applied AI, integrating it into our industrial base to boost productivity, resilience, and economic sovereignty." Jeannette zu Fürstenberg Managing Director, General Catalyst 'By seizing this moment, working with greater intention, and embracing deep collaboration, Europe can seize a generational opportunity by leading in applied AI, integrating it into our industrial base to boost productivity, resilience, and economic sovereignty,' Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, managing director of General Catalyst, said in a statement. More than 60 European companies have signed on to the initiative, including chipmaker ASML, Airbus, Mistral AI, Siemens, Spotify, Volkswagen, and L'Oreal Group. New public interest initiatives Macron launched Current AI on Tuesday with an initial $400 million (€387 million) investment from the French government, philanthropists, and industry partners. According to a statement, the public interest foundation will 'reshape' the AI landscape by expanding access to datasets, investing in open-source tools to make AI more transparent, and measuring AI's social and environmental impact. 'AI has the power to transform access to jobs, healthcare, and education for the better, but only if we act now. Current AI will drive a shift towards open, people-first technologies'. Martin Tisné Founder, Current AI 'We have a critical window to shape the future of artificial intelligence,' Martin Tisné, the founder of Current AI, said in a statement. 'AI has the power to transform access to jobs, healthcare, and education for the better, but only if we act now. Current AI will drive a shift towards open, people-first technologies'. Eleven state governments, including EU members France, Germany, Slovakia, Finland, and Switzerland, are backing the project. Another non-profit, the Robust Open Online Safety Tools (ROOST) initiative, debuted on Monday. According to a statement, the initiative brings together tech leaders to develop and provide free, open-source safety tools to public and private organisations. The initiative will also make it easier to report online child sexual abuse material and will use the large language models that train AI systems to put in place 'safety infrastructure'. The NGO has support from the founders of Discord, OpenAI, Roblox, and other foundations. Mistral and Helsing team up for AI in defence A new partnership was announced at the summit on Monday between French start-up Mistral AI and Helsing, a European defence technology company, who will work together on AI systems in defence. A press release said the joint project will work on so-called vision-language-action models that will help defence platforms 'understand their environment, communicate naturally with operators, and allow for faster, more reliable decisions in complex scenarios". Helsing already uses AI in its military technology, including in strike drones deployed in Ukraine. 'Europe needs to assert its strength as a geopolitical actor, and AI leadership is the key to that strength,' Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, said in a statement. Macron pledges €109 billion for Europe's 'Stargate' One announcement made before the conference is Macron's declaration that his country's AI private sector will receive a dedicated €109 billion in the 'coming years'. Macron told French broadcasterFrance 2 that the investment is the 'equivalent for France of what the United States announced with Stargate,' referring to US President Donald Trump's $500 billion (€484.5 billion) AI private investment project announced in his first few weeks on the job. Part of this funding includes a previously made deal with the United Arab Emirates to foot the bill for an amount between €30 and €50 billion to build a data centre campus that would be the largest in Europe, Le Monde reported. Canadian investment firm Brookfield also announced a €20 billion investment in AI infrastructure in France. French companies, including telecommunications firms Iliad and Orange, and Thales, an aerospace and defence group, are also contributing.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paris AI summit sees world leaders meet with tech figures for high-stakes talks
World leaders and tech figures are meeting in Paris for a two-day artificial intelligence summit on Monday, aiming to discuss and determine the future direction of the rapidly developing industry. Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the AI Action Summit will welcome OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, US Vice President JD Vance and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing. 'We're living a technology and scientific revolution we've rarely seen,' President Macron said Sunday on national television France 2. France and Europe must seize the 'opportunity' because AI "will enable us to live better, learn better, work better, care better and it's up to us to put this artificial intelligence at the service of human beings,' he said. The summit, which gathers major players such as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI, aims at fostering AI advances in sectors like health, education, environment and culture. A global public-private partnership named 'Current AI' is to be launched to support large-scale initiatives that serve the general interest. The Paris summit 'is the first time we'll have had such a broad international discussion in one place on the future of AI,' said Linda Griffin, vice president of public policy at Mozilla. 'I see it as a norm-setting moment.' Nick Reiners, senior geotechnology analyst at Eurasia Group, noted an opportunity to shape AI governance in a new direction by 'moving away from this concentration of power amongst a handful of private actors and building this public interest AI instead." However, it remains unclear if the US will support such initiatives. French organisers also hope the summit will lead to major investment announcements in Europe. France is to announce AI private investments worth a total of 109 billion euros ($113 billion) over the coming years, Macron said, presenting it as 'the equivalent' of Trump's Stargate AI data centres project. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is co-hosting the summit with Macron, in an effort to involve more global actors in AI development and prevent the sector from becoming a US-China battle. India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, stressed the need for equitable access to AI to avoid "perpetuating a digital divide that is already existing across the world.' Industry figures expressed hope that the Paris summit could provide some direction to the industry, as well as some global coordination when it comes to regulation. 'The Paris AI Action Summit is a pivotal moment to move beyond abstract debates about AI and focus on concrete, global actions,' Mitchell Baker, chairwoman of Mozilla, told The Independent. 'A key goal is to develop governance policies that strike a balance between the transformative potential of commercial innovation with the imperative to deliver real public benefit. The structural incentives for building public good need to be more robust.' Additional reporting from agencies Sign in to access your portfolio
Ya Biladi
10-02-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
France launches AI initiative with Morocco, Nigeria, and Kenya as founding members
France has partnered with eight countries, organizations, and companies to launch «Current AI», an ambitious initiative designed to promote artificial intelligence (AI) «of general interest». Announced on Sunday, February 9, just before the AI summit in Paris, this project has the backing of 11 tech sector leaders. The collaboration includes founding countries such as Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, Chile, Finland, Germany, Slovenia, and Switzerland, as reported by AFP. Prominent figures like Arthur Mensch from Mistral AI and Fidji Simo from Instacart are supporting «Current AI», which has already secured an initial investment of $400 million. The initiative aims to raise $2.5 billion over the next five years to enhance access to private and public databases in critical areas like health and education. Participants also include major companies such as Google, Salesforce, and AI Collaborative, the group associated with eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. The project intends to allocate resources towards developing open-source infrastructures and tools to promote a more «transparent and secure» AI framework. It also seeks to create systems that can effectively evaluate the social and environmental impacts of AI technologies. «Current AI will contribute to the development of our own artificial intelligence systems in France and Europe, aiming to diversify the market and foster global innovation», stated Emmanuel Macron in an official announcement. This initiative's unveiling precedes the AI summit in Paris, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, where political and economic leaders will convene to address the challenges posed by the swift evolution of AI technology.
