Through a series of engaging roundtables and discussions at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, government officials and industry executives mapped out initiatives to foster technological advancement through AI alongside a commitment to responsible innovation.
The afternoon programme was packed with five thematic workshops relating to AI foundations, sustainable AI and how AI can be applied to industries like finance, telecoms and life sciences. A delegation of 15 innovative UK scale-ups companies made the journey over to Paris including unicorns like Darktrace, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Luminance and Quantexa. They were joined by an outstanding cohort of UK and French corporates like Sopra Steria, Capgemini, BT, Sanofi and Orange to discuss future partnership opportunities between UK scale-ups and corporates.
The workshops were followed by an evening reception for more than 200 contacts from the UK and French tech ecosystems. UK Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark opened the event by linking historical milestones to today’s digital breakthroughs. Speaking after a dash from Bletchley Park to Paris that very day, Clark celebrated the legacy of early codebreakers and modern-day innovators alike. She underscored the UK’s position as the world’s third-largest AI market, outlining bold initiatives such as boosting computing power twentyfold by 2030, unlocking critical public datasets and strengthening the national talent pipeline. Emphasizing that “growth means growth for all”, Feryal Clark made it clear that collaboration with France is essential to achieving these transformative goals and that international partnerships are central to the Government’s growth strategy.
The conversation quickly shifted from policy to practice as industry heavyweights weighed in on the UK and France’s competitive stance in the global AI arena. In a discussion led by Menna Rawlings, British Ambassador to France, Clare Barclay, President of Enterprise and Industry EMEA at Microsoft and Chair of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and Audrey Herblin-Stoop, Head of Public Affairs at Mistral AI, they spoke of the importance of bilateral cooperation in harnessing our common interests. They stressed that the challenge is not whether AI leaders in the UK and France can compete with American and Chinese giants, but how the countries must lead by ensuring that AI development upholds our core values—a commitment to innovation, cultural diversity and safety. Early investments by both countries, including the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and President Macron’s recent AI infrastructure announcement, signals the UK and France’s readiness to be trailblazers in Europe and shape the future of the industry.
A particularly resonant theme was the promotion of gender diversity within the AI sector—a topic brought to life by the all-female panel on stage. The speakers highlighted the dual imperative of preventing algorithmic bias and broadening participation in AI research and development. They pointed to ongoing efforts to increase the representation of women in technical roles, emphasising that inclusive teams are not only a matter of fairness but also a critical factor in creating technology that truly reflects diverse perspectives. “We must ensure our AI systems offer accurate and fair representation”, Audrey Herblin Stoop remarked, capturing the industry-wide call for change.
The shared sentiment among attendees was one of optimism tempered with resolve. Plans for future UK-France Summits and increased joint investments in AI infrastructure signal a deepening partnership aimed at harnessing technology for the common good.
With ambitious targets on the horizon and a clear vision for inclusive growth, the dialogue at the British Embassy offers a blueprint for how governments and industry leaders can work together to transform AI’s potential into tangible benefits for society. And now it’s time for the AI Action Summit in Paris.
President Macron, over to you!
