As part of his visit to Serbia, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a European model for artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative focuses on three main pillars: science, standards, and solutions, with the goal of reducing the technological gap between Europe, China, and the United States. Macron stressed that Europe must develop its own approach to AI, rather than mimicking models from Beijing or Washington.
Macron and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic participated in a forum on AI held in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city. During the event, Macron emphasized the urgent need for Europe to catch up with the major global powers in this area. He noted that China and the U.S. are currently investing far more in AI development, and this disparity puts Europe at risk of falling behind.
The French president acknowledged that Europe has fallen behind in the race for technological innovation. While China and the U.S. have made rapid progress in developing AI, Macron said that Europe must accelerate its own investments and efforts in order to remain competitive. Without significant action, he warned, Europe could be left out of the global AI leadership.
Macron also highlighted the differences between the approaches of the world powers. He noted that China’s AI model is heavily controlled by the government, while the U.S. model is led by the private sector. In response, Macron proposed a “mixed model” for Europe, combining public and private initiatives to foster AI growth and ensure balanced development.
Belgrade is preparing to lead the global partnership for AI in the coming years. Additionally, France will host a major AI summit in February 2025, where Europe’s progress and strategies will be discussed.
According to AFP, Macron urged European nations to "innovate and invest much more" in AI. He emphasized that Europe should create its own technological solutions tailored to its specific needs, rather than copying models from abroad.
