4 Editorial by the President of the French Republic The development of artificial intelligence is con- stantly gaining pace, and its immense potential is transforming our lives. It can predict, calculate and reproduce; it can accelerate the progress of our knowledge, our technology and our creativity. This technology brings many great opportunities. Everyone can see how the fields of health, edu- cation, work and innovation will be transformed forever by technologies with a potential that has not yet been achieved. Their deployment also brings risks and legitimate concerns, as regards the reliability of information, the protection of rights, and its accessibility to everyone. It is time to act, to preserve our heritage of thought and the balance of our societies, and to shape artifi- cial intelligence in accordance with the universal values we uphold. During the European Renaissance, the growth of science liberated men and women, reinvented medicine, brought political and religious changes, and transformed humankinds vision of nature and the universe. In the midst of this effervescence, a certain idea of humanity emerged: machines were subordinate to the mind, the universe to reason, and the individual to society. Similarly, as artificial intelligence emerges, I believe that France and Europe must ensure that these global shifts bear the mark of humanism. The future of artificial intelligence is a political issue, one of sovereignty and strategic independ- ence. To ensure our continent and our country, which has a rich and vibrant AI ecosystem, are leaders during this century, we need to support our talents and our businesses.