The battle for global leadership in artificial intelligence is intensifying, and Europe risks falling behind. The European tech industry has been shaken by Donald Trump’s announcement of the Stargate initiative and the recent emergence of DeepSeek, raising concerns over the continent’s standing in the AI race.

This challenge is at the core of the International AI Summit in Paris, where global leaders and industry pioneers are discussing strategies to ensure Europe remains competitive in the AI sector.

According to sources from the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron is determined to place Europe at the forefront of AI development, arguing that artificial intelligence should not be monopolized by just two countries.

France acknowledges that Europe is at a critical turning point, especially in light of the massive U.S. government funding under Trump and the rise of DeepSeek. However, French officials stress that Europe has the infrastructure and talent necessary to compete with the United States.

With the European Commission officially participating in the summit, the Élysée views this as an opportunity to showcase Europe’s capabilities and push for increased funding and strategic prioritization from EU institutions.

In the lead-up to the summit, France has been actively mobilizing support for European AI firms. President Macron recently discussed this with European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, urging European investors to back local AI companies.

The Paris AI Summit serves as both a platform to demonstrate Europe's AI potential and a rallying call for financial and strategic support for the continent’s rapidly expanding AI sector.

As part of the summit, the Paris Peace Forum launched a global call for AI projects designed to enhance citizen well-being and promote ethical AI use. This initiative received 770 applications from 111 countries, reflecting worldwide enthusiasm for AI-driven solutions to major global challenges.

An international selection committee reviewed the submissions and chose 50 standout projects spanning nearly every continent. These initiatives cover diverse fields, including support for visually impaired individuals, combating digital violence, early cancer detection, and tackling hate speech and labor rights issues.

The selected projects represent 28 countries, with 22 originating from the Global South, highlighting the widespread commitment to responsible AI development.

Among the standout AI projects featured at the summit:

• Sustainable Development

  • SLP (Zimbabwe) – AI-powered lesson planning for teachers in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Visis (Nigeria) – AI reading technology for the blind, enabling independent scene and color recognition.
  • Guacamaya (U.S.) – AI and cloud-based monitoring of deforestation in the Amazon.
  • Enfarm (Vietnam) – AI-driven agricultural optimization to reduce fertilizer use and carbon footprint by 20%.

• Governance & Crisis Response

  • DISHA (Thailand) – AI-powered disaster response coordination.
  • GANNET (U.S.) – Real-time AI analytics for humanitarian crisis management.

• AI & Trust: Democracy, Information, and Security

  • Yodi (Tonga) – AI tools in local languages to bridge the digital divide.
  • Hura (Bangladesh) – Decentralized AI using blockchain for transparent and secure applications.

• Workplace Safety & Innovation

  • Phantom (Cameroon) – AI-based industrial safety application.

• Cultural AI & Intellectual Property

  • VP2IA (Canada) – AI-driven intellectual property protection for collaborative projects.

As AI becomes a defining force in the global economy, Europe's ability to mobilize investment, foster innovation, and maintain ethical AI practices will determine whether it can compete on the world stage.