FRANCE PERSPECTIVE

French media approach the Zhongguancun Forum through the prism of European technological sovereignty. Le Monde devotes an in-depth article to Chinese humanoid robots, drawing comparisons with French (Aldebaran/SoftBank, PAL Robotics) and European efforts, concluding Europe has lost the consumer robotics race. Les Échos analyzes implications for French industry: luxury and aerospace SMEs dependent on the Chinese market observe Beijing's tech pivot with attention.

France 24 covers the forum highlighting the geopolitical dimension: the 100 countries represented include many Francophone African nations, targets of Chinese tech diplomacy. Le Figaro worries about the 'digital silk road' in Francophone Africa, where Huawei surveillance technologies and Chinese AI solutions replace former French influence.

Libération adopts a more combative tone, criticizing the absence of a coordinated European response and calling for an 'Airbus of AI.' The strategic autonomy concept, dear to Macron, is mobilized in the tech domain: Europe cannot depend on the US for tech as it cannot depend on Russia for energy.

Les Échos notes France has an asset: its AI researchers are among the world's most cited (Yann LeCun, etc.), but they mostly work for American GAFAMs.