“AI will take on a very special place in my work” as a member of the new French government, said Clara Chappaz, newly-appointed secretary of state for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, on Monday (23 September).
The former ministry for the digital transition and telecommunications has been renamed the ministry of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The change sends a clear message to the world and to EU countries that France will continue to support innovative companies, especially in AI, Chappaz said.
Speaking at a handover ceremony before an audience of officials on Monday, Chappaz referenced the upcoming Paris AI Action Summit in February 2025, which will focus on shaping global AI governance.
“The AI race is on and we need to keep up with its pace,” she said.
Chappaz added that she wants to “guarantee France’s future in tech” and that artificial intelligence “becomes a tool for social inclusion and equality.”
Chappaz was among the ministers appointed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Saturday (21 September), ending a 67-day political deadlock following the July snap legislative elections.
This is Chappaz’s first political position, who at 35 has spent her career working with startups. She worked as director of French Tech, a government-led initiative to foster growth of its tech ecosystem, for three years.
Key to her plans is training researchers and engineers, as well as building “bridges between the economy and research,” she said.
Chappaz’s appointment and comments on Monday are “recognition of the strategic importance of AI,” Julien Jay, communications manager for leading French cloud computing company OVHcloud, told Euractiv.
Her position now sits under the ministry for higher education and research, headed by Patrick Hetzel (LDR, EPP), having been moved from the ministry of economy.
But the division of files further down the chain of command is currently unclear.
Telecommunications should no longer fall under the purview of the AI and digital secretary, Chappaz said.
The sector will remain within the competences of the ministry of the economy, probably with Industry Minister delegate Marc Ferracci, two people close to the matter told Euractiv.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Economy declined to comment on how telecoms policy would be managed.
“The close relationship between the public sphere, the entrepreneurial sector, and the research world seems positive” following Chappaz’s appointment, Jean Cattan, general secretary of the administrative advisory commission CNNum told Euractiv.
But the “network of regulators” between national authorities and the European Commission – that will implement EU and French digital law – still needs to be organised, he said.
[Edited by Owen Morgan]
