Wouldn’t the use of Generative AI and the new tools it allows us to build be an opportunity to take back control of our technological and industrial destiny?
Returning from the AI Summit in India with a French delegation bringing together flagships of research and public excellence such as Inserm and digital players, the observation requires in-depth reflection. How can we not be impressed by the dynamics of this global hub, by the striking power of giants like Infosys or even French players like Capgemini? Their model is a frontal reality: leading engineers with almost infinite capacity, at low costs, evolving in an ecosystem free from social constraints and ethical barriers.
This dizziness is all the more terrible as our large companies face a brutal equation. They must deal with a market which requires a contraction of budgets (IT in particular) while undergoing a technological revolution which requires massive investments. Faced with this paradoxical injunction, the temptation of distant delegation is strong. However, it is precisely today that we must think about the choice, against the grain, to produce here.
Choosing authenticity over opportunism
The answer is less easy, but more true: it must be recognized that current economic opportunism would push offshore. But choosing France means favoring the authenticity of a model where we produce where we advise. It is a model which will promote the “knowledge” of local teams, security and above all this sovereignty to be reconquered or, to be more pragmatic, the control of dependence.
Technological and industrial sovereignty cannot be decreed, it is based on two pillars: teams and knowledge. We will all be stronger in supporting the transformation of our national flagships if we remain connected to their daily reality. Proximity is not just a question of geography, it is a question of cultural and operational impregnation that offshore will never be able to simulate.
Generative AI: the end of the inevitability of volume
This is where generative AI is a game changer. It offers, if we go about it professionally, the tools necessary to once again become competitive and differentiating locally, when the fate seemed sealed in favor of volume at low prices.
By automating execution tasks, AI reduces competitive advantage based on low wages alone. It allows us to reconcile the strategic interest of projects with their cost imperatives, the understanding of the professions in the right cultural nuance. Highlighting French excellence means reaffirming that the technical expertise of our local engineers, augmented by AI, is a major strategic asset. By moving the cursor from pure productivity towards value and local knowledge, AI does not replace the French engineer: it increases tenfold their ability to create competitiveness and sustainability on our soil.
Conclusion: Resilience through trust
In an unstable world, sovereignty and trust are built closely. Betting on France is not a retreat, particularly on major knowledge such as digital technology, it is an investment in resilience.
