REF 2026: AI Nearly Absent from First Presidential Debate

Key Takeaways

1AI was barely mentioned during the first presidential debate at REF 2026

2The European Union has identified 77 proposals for AI gigafactories and is preparing new legislation

3Only 35% of French CEOs consider AI a priority, less than eight months before the first round

Why it matters : The contrast between the European agenda and the low emphasis on AI in the French political debate highlights a potential lag on a strategic issue.

In front of the Medef, the first round of the 2027 presidential election left artificial intelligence in the background. While Brussels showcases 77 proposals for its AI gigafactories and Paris urges investment "starting today," few candidates have detailed a stance on the subject. In fact, only 35% of business leaders prioritize AI.

Brussels Pushes for AI: 77 Proposals and New Texts Announced

Ursula von der Leyen has called on Europe to invest in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. She indicated that the call for bids to host AI gigafactories has generated 77 proposals across 16 member states, spread over 60 sites. She also mentioned the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act and a second Chips Act. Jean-Noël Barrot estimated that gaining an advantage in AI could mean gaining an advantage everywhere else, warning that investment must begin today, as it will be too late in two years.

Little Room for Tech During a Three-Hour Debate

Held at Roland-Garros on the Philippe-Chatrier court, the REF debate brought together seven candidates around dominant themes such as the state deficit, taxation, pension reform, ecology, and sovereignty. During the three hours of exchanges, tech and AI were barely addressed. The session, marked by some boos and exchanges of barbs, took place while rain fell over Paris.

What Candidates Propose—or Say—About AI

Raphaël Glucksmann advocated for a "Manhattan Project" for AI, echoing a term already used by Bruno Le Maire. Glucksmann warned by comparing Europe to the 21st-century Ottoman Empire, which would have missed Gutenberg's printing press. Bruno Retailleau, who presented a €25 billion plan for AI at the Machina Summit in July, wants to maintain the Research Tax Credit, which he believes is threatened in the 2027 budget soon to be debated in the National Assembly. Gabriel Attal indicated that the challenge of AI and innovation is among his main concerns, alongside China and the morale of entrepreneurs, asserting that during two hours of debate, American giants would have invested $100 million in AI research. Jean-Luc Mélenchon briefly mentioned AI and quantum in his conclusion. The term "Manhattan Project" refers to the American program for developing the atomic bomb during World War II, which led to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, an episode recalled by the release of the film "Oppenheimer" in 2023.

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Entrepreneurs and Medef's Opinion: AI Not at the Top of the List

Before the candidates took the stage, a roundtable titled "Europe Has Not Said Its Last Prompt" gathered Laurent Solly, COO of AMI Labs, the AI startup of Yann LeCun, and Frédéric Mazzella, co-founder of BlaBlaCar and Dift. Both expressed a desire for AI to be at the heart of the presidential campaign, with Mazzella stating that it can transform nearly everything in our civilization. According to a Medef survey, 35% of French business leaders consider investment in AI a priority. Jean-Noël Barrot believes that France can embody a third way in the face of the United States and China, centered around a politically agnostic AI that respects diversity, the planet, and people. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for Sunday, April 18, 2027, in just under eight months.