Politics · France · 5 hrs ago
Attal says AI should be a bigger issue in France’s presidential campaign
French presidential candidate Gabriel Attal says AI is getting too little attention in the campaign.
He made the remarks at an event in Saint-Raphaël on Sunday, November 8.
Attal says there are two challenges: building strong AI models and spreading AI widely through society and the economy.
He said Americans are ahead in developing models, while China is ahead in wider adoption.
Attal argues that wider use could raise productivity and help increase French wages.
He proposed a productivity tax credit to help companies adopt AI and training 20 million people over three years.
He also said European countries should work together on technology, warning that delay could leave Europe dependent on American and Chinese models.
Gabriel Attal says artificial intelligence should have a much larger place in France’s presidential campaign.
He called the limited attention to AI “totally astonishing” at an event in Saint-Raphaël on 8 November.
Attal said the competition involves both developing leading AI models and spreading AI across society and the economy.
He argued wider adoption could raise productivity and French wages.
He proposed a productivity tax credit for businesses adopting AI and training 20 million people in three years.
- Who
- Gabriel Attal, a Renaissance presidential candidate.
- What
- He said AI should be a bigger issue in the presidential campaign and outlined proposals to promote its use.
- When
- Sunday, 8 November 2026.
- Where
- At the Rencontres de l’avenir in Saint-Raphaël, Var, France.
- Why
- He said AI adoption could boost productivity and wages, and argued France must act to compete internationally.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Attal spoke at the Rencontres de l’avenir in Saint-Raphaël and criticised the limited place given to AI in the presidential campaign.
He described a competition to develop leading AI models and to spread AI use through society and the economy.
- Event
- Rencontres de l’avenir, Saint-Raphaël
- Date
- 8 November 2026
- Productivity proposal
- A productivity tax credit for businesses adopting AI
- Training proposal
- 20 million French people in three years
What people are saying
Ce sujet passe totalement au second plan et c'est totalement sidérant.
Pour moi, la clé est là.