France has firmly positioned itself as one of Europe’s most ambitious players in artificial intelligence. From national strategy to industrial deployment, AI is widely viewed as a cornerstone of Industry 4.0 and future competitiveness. Yet, despite massive investment and strong political backing, tangible returns on investment (ROI) remain limited, raising questions about execution, maturity, and the pace of transformation.

According to recent data, 94% of French industrial companies are either investing or planning to invest in AI and generative AI. This near-universal adoption signals strong confidence in AI’s long-term potential. However, when it comes to measurable outcomes, the picture is far more cautious. In 2024, only 2% of French industrial firms considered AI to be the technology delivering the best ROI, the lowest figure among the countries analysed. Even generative AI, often seen as a breakthrough, fares modestly: just 8% of companies report strong ROI, compared with a European average of 13%.

Strategic Uses Lead, Profitability Lags

While profitability remains limited, France stands out for how strategically it deploys AI. Cybersecurity is a prime example. More than 56% of French industrial firms use AI to strengthen their cybersecurity, significantly above the European average of 45%. Similarly, 36% leverage AI for the design of new products, outperforming other European countries, where the average stands at 31%.

This strategic focus reflects a forward-looking approach: AI is not merely seen as a cost-saving tool, but as an enabler of resilience and innovation. Yet execution gaps persist. Although 93% of respondents identify cybersecurity as a priority investment area, only 9% believe they have achieved tangible ROI so far. Even more striking, the active adoption rate of cybersecurity countermeasures remains the lowest in Europe, at just 24%, highlighting a disconnect between ambition and operational deployment.

Talent: The Real Battleground

One area where momentum is clearly visible is talent. Eighty percent of French companies now consider AI and machine learning expertise a decisive lever to attract talent, up sharply from 67% in 2024. This shift underlines a growing recognition that AI success depends less on tools and more on people.

Human resources strategies, however, remain mixed. Thirty-three percent of industrial firms recruit new tech profiles, while 27% focus on upskilling existing employees, a level below the European average. Notably, 40% adopt a hybrid approach, combining recruitment and reskilling—the highest proportion observed in Europe. This balanced strategy may prove critical in overcoming skill shortages while ensuring internal knowledge transfer.

ESG Ambitions Take Shape—Slowly

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are gaining traction but are not yet fully embedded. Currently, only 35% of French industrial companies operate within a structured ESG framework, and just 17% plan to actively use ESG criteria to improve performance in the medium term.

That said, motivations are evolving. Operational efficiency is cited by 52% of companies as a key driver for ESG adoption, while 42% highlight ethical considerations, a proportion unmatched elsewhere in Europe. This ethical emphasis suggests that, in France, AI governance and responsible innovation may become competitive differentiators over time.

A Strong and Adaptive National AI Strategy

France’s industrial AI landscape is underpinned by a clear and evolving national strategy. The first phase (2018–2022) focused on building excellence in interdisciplinary AI research and expanding computing capacity. The second phase (2022–2025) shifted priorities toward diffusing AI across the economy, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while strengthening training, education, and the development of sovereign and trustworthy AI technologies.

The rapid rise of generative AI prompted additional measures in 2023, including calls for projects on generative AI “commons,” accelerated adoption programs, reinforced AI cloud services, and expanded public supercomputing capacity. These efforts are closely aligned with European initiatives such as EuroHPC, ensuring France remains competitive at both national and EU levels.

France has also emphasized monitoring and evaluation, relying on key performance indicators, external assessments, and independent expert bodies such as the Comité de l’intelligence artificielle générative. These mechanisms extend to broader innovation efforts under France 2030, which targets sectors like electronics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

Safety, Skills, and Territories: A Holistic Approach

France was the first EU member state to join the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, reinforcing its commitment to responsible AI development. Talent development is equally central: national programs aim to train 400,000 individuals annually by 2030, while promoting inclusion and diversity across AI ecosystems.

Territorial deployment is another pillar. With 16 European Digital Innovation Hubs, regional AI networks, and participation in all EU-funded AI testing and experimentation facilities, France is working to ensure AI adoption is not confined to major metropolitan centres.

Bridging the Gap Between Vision and Value

France’s AI strategy is coherent, ambitious, and ethically grounded. Yet the challenge ahead is clear: transforming strategic investment into measurable economic value. As AI moves from experimentation to scale, success will depend on execution speed, workforce readiness, and the ability to convert technological leadership into sustained industrial performance.

References

Benoit, M.-C. (2025, June 04). Industry 4.0: France Strategically Invests in AI but ROI Remains Marginal. Retrieved from ActuIA: https://www.actuia.com/en/news/industry-40-france-strategically-invests-in-ai-but-roi-remains-marginal/

OECD. (2025, November 10). Progress in Implementing the European Union Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence (Volume 1): France. Retrieved from OECD: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/progress-in-implementing-the-european-union-coordinated-plan-on-artificial-intelligence-volume-1_6d530a88-en/france_3e109fb4-en.html

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