French minister says AI slowdown calls favour US leaders

French finance minister Roland Lescure has said that appeals to slow the pace of artificial intelligence development ultimately benefit the United States' leading AI companies, and that France and Europe should instead move faster so they can manage the technology's risks.

Speaking in Paris, Lescure argued that the push for restraint is coming from those already at the front of the field. He said it was clear that calls to slow down were being made by "those at the top of the class", and that asking everyone else to hold back would allow the leaders to preserve their position. He described the motive behind such calls as self-interest.

Lescure said he wanted France and Europe to intensify their efforts, with the aim of becoming a leader in the sector and being in a position to handle the risks that accompany it.

His remarks place the debate over AI governance in a competitive frame, suggesting that caution urged by dominant players may entrench their advantage rather than serve broader safety goals. For Europe, the minister's position points to a push for greater capability alongside risk management, rather than restraint as the primary response.