France is positioning itself as a major player in AI, with President Emmanuel Macron highlighting the country’s nuclear-powered advantage. Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, he said France generates more electricity than it consumes, making it an ideal destination for energy-intensive AI companies.
Europe must act swiftly to remain competitive, according to Macron, who announced €109 billion in AI investments. He described the summit as a wake-up call for Europe, warning that the continent risks lagging behind the US and China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to outline the EU’s AI strategy, aiming to simplify regulations, expand markets, and boost computing power.
The EU’s AI Act faces criticism for stifling innovation, with Macron calling for a balance between regulation and technological progress. He emphasised that AI should serve humanity while aligning with global standards. France will adopt a ‘Notre-Dame strategy’, aiming for rapid AI advancements, mirroring the country’s swift reconstruction of the cathedral after the 2019 fire.
European businesses were urged to prioritise local AI firms over foreign competitors. Macron argued that companies in the US, China, and India favour homegrown solutions and called for a similar approach in Europe. Strengthening domestic AI development, he said, would help the continent stay competitive in the rapidly evolving sector.
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A state-of-the-art space lab on the outskirts of Cairo, touted as Africa’s first satellite production facility, has been built with substantial Chinese involvement. While the lab was designed to assemble homegrown Egyptian satellites, much of the technology, equipment, and expertise comes from China. The first satellite produced at the facility was largely assembled in China and launched from there in December 2023. The plant is part of a broader Chinese effort to strengthen its space presence across Africa, as Beijing seeks to enhance its global surveillance capabilities and assert itself as a dominant space power.
Egypt’s satellite facility is just one element of China’s growing influence in Africa’s space sector. Over the past two years, China has gifted Egypt with various space technologies, including advanced telescopes and Earth observation satellites. However, these technologies come with strings attached, as China maintains a long-term presence in the facilities it builds and gains access to data collected by its satellites. This partnership is a part of China’s broader strategy to establish space alliances in Africa, aiming to secure surveillance data and boost its military capabilities.
China’s efforts to expand its space infrastructure on the continent are drawing attention from global powers. While Egypt and other African nations benefit from Chinese investments, there are concerns about Beijing’s increasing influence and its ability to collect sensitive data through these space projects. The US has voiced concerns over the potential military applications of China’s space technology in Africa, as Beijing builds ground stations and enhances its surveillance capabilities. Despite these concerns, African countries, including Egypt, remain neutral, viewing space collaborations as opportunities for scientific and technological advancement.
The US has struggled to match China’s strategic approach in Africa, with many African nations now seeking technology partnerships that suit their immediate needs. This shift underscores the growing importance of space technology in geopolitics, as countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Senegal enter into agreements with China that could shape the future of space exploration and military capabilities. As the global space race intensifies, China’s growing influence in Africa may continue to challenge the US and other Western powers in their efforts to maintain dominance in space exploration.
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Lyft is preparing to introduce fully autonomous robotaxis in Dallas by 2026, powered by Mobileye’s technology. The announcement from CEO David Risher on Monday saw Lyft’s shares rise by 4.6%, while Mobileye’s stock jumped 17%.
Companies across the automotive and tech industries continue to invest heavily in self-driving technology, viewing it as a key factor in shaping the future of mobility.
Japanese conglomerate Marubeni will own and finance the Mobileye-equipped vehicles, which will be available through the Lyft app. Mobileye had previously confirmed a partnership with Lyft in November to bring autonomous vehicles to the platform.
Lyft’s move comes as competition in the self-driving space intensifies, with Uber’s partner Waymo set to launch its own autonomous taxi service in Austin next month.
Waymo has already expanded its self-driving ride-hailing services to major US cities, including Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin.
More cities are expected to be added in 2025 as testing expands. Tesla has also announced plans to test driverless car technology in Austin from June but has yet to reveal details about a paid service.
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France‘s antitrust agency has launched an investigation into Microsoft over concerns that the company may be degrading search results for smaller rivals using Bing technology in their search-engine products. Microsoft has confirmed its full cooperation with the French regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, but has not commented further. Although Microsoft does not dominate the general search market, it holds a significant share in the search-engine syndication sector.
The investigation, which was first reported by Bloomberg, could lead to formal charges and a potential fine for the US tech giant if the regulator determines that Microsoft’s actions are anti-competitive. The French competition authority has yet to provide any additional details about the probe. The case could have broader implications for the way major tech firms, including Microsoft, operate in the digital advertising and search-engine markets, potentially influencing how they collaborate with smaller companies.
If the investigation results in a fine or any form of penalty, it would further highlight the ongoing scrutiny of the practices of big tech companies in Europe. With regulators across the continent taking a closer look at the competitive dynamics of the tech sector, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for future antitrust actions within the industry.
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US Vice President JD Vance is set to speak at the Paris AI summit on Tuesday, where he is expected to address Europe’s regulation of artificial intelligence and the moderation of content on major tech platforms. As AI continues to grow, the global discussion has shifted from safety concerns to intense geopolitical competition, with nations vying to lead the technology’s development. On the first day of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised the need for Europe to reduce regulatory barriers to foster AI growth, in contrast to the regulatory divergence between the US, China, and Europe.
Vance, a vocal critic of content moderation on tech platforms, has voiced concerns over Europe’s approach, particularly in relation to Elon Musk’s platform X. Ahead of his trip, he stressed that free speech should be a priority for the US under President Trump, suggesting that European content moderation could harm these values. While Vance’s main focus in Paris is expected to be Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he will lead the American delegation in discussions with nearly 100 countries, including China and India, to navigate competing national interests in the AI sector.
Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also expected to present a new AI strategy, aimed at simplifying regulations and accelerating Europe’s progress. At the summit, Macron highlighted the region’s shift to carbon-free nuclear energy to meet the growing energy demands of AI. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on European companies to unite in strengthening AI efforts within the continent. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to speak, following a significant bid from a consortium led by Musk to purchase OpenAI.
The summit also anticipates discussions on a draft statement proposing an inclusive, human rights-based approach to AI, with an emphasis on avoiding market concentration and ensuring sustainability for both people and the planet. However, it remains unclear whether nations will support this approach as they align their strategies.
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Microsoft has proposed increasing the price difference between its Office product with the Teams app and the version without it, to avoid a potential EU antitrust fine. This comes after complaints from rivals like Salesforce-owned Slack and German competitor alfaview regarding Microsoft’s practice of bundling Teams with Office. Since Teams became a part of Office 365 in 2017, it gained widespread use during the pandemic, largely due to its video conferencing capabilities.
To address concerns, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office in 2023, offering Office without Teams for €2 less and a standalone Teams subscription for €5 per month. The European Commission is currently gathering feedback from companies, with a decision on whether to conduct a formal market test expected soon. As part of its offer, Microsoft has also proposed better interoperability terms to make it easier for competitors to challenge its products.
The EU has previously fined Microsoft €2.2 billion for similar antitrust issues in the past. If the Commission accepts Microsoft’s proposal without issuing a fine or finding wrongdoing, it would likely allow the EU to focus resources on ongoing investigations into other tech giants like Apple and Google.
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Nokia has announced that Pekka Lundmark will step down as CEO, with Justin Hotard, currently EVP and GM of Intel’s Data Center & AI Group, set to take over the role on April 1. This leadership change is seen as part of Nokia’s strategic shift towards expanding into areas like AI and data centres, where the company is positioning itself for future growth. Hotard’s strong background in AI and technology is expected to drive Nokia’s focus on these emerging sectors.
The news has led to a 1.6% rise in Nokia’s shares, reflecting positive investor sentiment despite the surprise announcement. Analysts note that the appointment of Hotard suggests Nokia’s commitment to strengthening its network infrastructure unit, particularly as it looks to benefit from the surge in AI investments. This follows Nokia’s $2.3 billion acquisition of US optical networking firm Infinera, aimed at tapping into the growing data centre market.
Lundmark, who has been CEO since 2020, will remain with Nokia as an advisor to Hotard until the end of the year. Despite some initial denials about leadership changes, the company confirmed that the transition plan had been in place for some time, with Lundmark signalling his intention to step down once the business repositioning was more advanced.
Nokia’s infrastructure business, which includes AI-integrated systems for communication, and its mobile networks division, focusing on 5G technology, are both seen as key to the company’s future. While shares are up 27.85% over the past year, they remain significantly lower than their peak in 2000.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has raised concerns about the Chinese AI app DeepSeek, accusing it of excessively collecting personal data and using it for training purposes. The agency warned government bodies last week to take security measures, highlighting that unlike other AI services, DeepSeek collects sensitive data such as keyboard input patterns and transfers it to Chinese servers. Some South Korean government ministries have already blocked access to the app due to these security concerns.
The NIS also pointed out that DeepSeek grants advertisers unrestricted access to user data and stores South Korean users’ data in China, where it could be accessed by the Chinese government under local laws. The agency also noted discrepancies in the app’s responses to sensitive questions, such as the origin of kimchi, which DeepSeek claimed was Chinese when asked in Chinese, but Korean when asked in Korean.
DeepSeek has also been accused of censoring political topics, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, prompting the app to suggest changing the subject. In response to these concerns, China’s foreign ministry stated that the country values data privacy and security and complies with relevant laws, denying that it pressures companies to violate privacy. DeepSeek has not yet commented on the allegations.
Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini, has criticised the European Union’s AI regulations, claiming they are overly restrictive and hinder the ability of global companies to deploy AI technology in the region. His comments come ahead of the AI Action summit in Paris and reflect increasing frustration from private sector players with EU laws. Ezzat highlighted the complexity of navigating different regulations across countries, especially in the absence of global AI standards, and argued that the EU’s AI Act hailed as the most comprehensive worldwide, could stifle innovation.
As one of Europe’s largest IT services firms, Capgemini works with major players like Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services. The company is concerned about the implementation of AI regulations in various countries and how they affect business operations. Ezzat is hopeful that the AI summit will provide an opportunity for regulators and industry leaders to align on AI policies moving forward.
Despite the regulatory challenges, Ezzat spoke positively about DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm gaining traction by offering cost-effective, open-source models that compete with US tech giants. However, he pointed out that while DeepSeek shares its models, it is not entirely open source, as there is limited access to the data used for training the models. Capgemini is in the early stages of exploring the use of DeepSeek’s technology with clients.
As concerns about AI’s impact on privacy grow, European data protection authorities have begun investigating AI companies, including DeepSeek, to ensure compliance with privacy laws. Ezzat’s comments underscore the ongoing tension between innovation and regulation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Powerchip Technology, a Taiwanese IT company, is facing intense competition from Chinese foundries like Nexchip, which has rapidly gained market share in the legacy chip sector. This shift, driven by steep discounts and aggressive capacity expansion, has been accelerated by China’s localisation efforts, forcing Powerchip to retreat from the once-profitable business of making integrated circuits for Chinese flat panels. The increasing dominance of Chinese companies in the $56.3 billion legacy chip market is causing concern in Taiwan, with companies like Powerchip and UMC now focusing on more advanced technologies to stay competitive.
Chinese foundries, supported by strong government funding and low margins, have significantly increased their production capacity, undercutting Taiwanese rivals on price. By 2027, China is projected to surpass Taiwan’s global mature node manufacturing capacity. Taiwanese executives are exploring specialisation and diversification, shifting focus from legacy chips to more advanced processes like 3D stacking, which integrates logic and DRAM memory to improve performance.
The rising competition from China is compounded by geopolitical tensions, as some customers are now requesting chips made outside China. This shift is partly due to the US’s trade policies and worsening relations between Beijing and other nations. Taiwanese companies are seeing more orders directed to their local fabs, with some customers explicitly avoiding ‘Made in China’ products.
While Taiwanese companies still have an edge in terms of process stability and production yields, the pressure from Chinese competitors is forcing them to rethink their strategies and adapt to the changing landscape. The future of the industry may depend on how Taiwan navigates both the rising Chinese competition and the geopolitical challenges shaping global supply chains.
