Op-ed in French Daily Le Monde
"EU Must Create an Environment for AI Advancement"
Praises France's Active Investment in AI Research and Development
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, is attending the 'Kakao Media Day' held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 4th, engaging in a dialogue with Jeong Sin-ah, CEO of Kakao. On the 8th (local time), Altman wrote in an op-ed for the French daily Le Monde that "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the center of the 'existential challenge' for the future of the European Union (EU)" and urged the EU to create an environment conducive to the development of AI technology. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated that "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the center of the 'existential challenge' for the future of the European Union (EU)" and urged the EU to create an environment conducive to the advancement of AI technology.
Prior to attending the international AI summit in Paris, Altman expressed in an op-ed for the French daily Le Monde on the 8th (local time) that European regulators need to carefully consider the consequences of their decisions.
Altman also emphasized, "European regulators striving to implement AI regulations need to think about how their decisions will impact future opportunities while others are moving forward," adding, "If growth, jobs, and progress are desired, innovators must be allowed to innovate and developers to develop."
The EU is set to become the first in the world to fully implement a comprehensive AI regulatory law by August 2026. Upon enactment, the law will impose tiered regulations divided into four levels based on the degree of risk AI technology may pose in specific products or sectors. The higher the risk of negative impact, the stricter the regulations applied.
Altman also referenced the "Future of EU Competitiveness" report released last September by Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank (ECB). In the report, Draghi argued that to compete with the United States and China, the EU must make new investments of 750 billion to 800 billion euros annually (1,114 trillion to 1,188 trillion KRW) and carry out radical overall reforms.
Altman highlighted technological advancement and investment in the AI sector as one of the solutions. He said, "AI is a technology that enhances productivity by providing people with tools to solve complex problems, such as improving medical diagnoses, accelerating scientific research, and assisting students' learning in classrooms," adding, "This is why we see the current era as the beginning of the 'Age of Intelligence.'"
He continued, "To ensure sustainable growth, job creation, health improvement, educational innovation, and breaking the boundaries of science, it is essential to develop AI's productive capabilities."
Altman praised France in this regard, saying it has "established a strategy that other European countries should follow." He particularly commended France's active investment in talent development and research and development (R&D) for AI advancement, as well as its establishment of a robust computing infrastructure to support AI research. Utilizing nuclear power, a low-carbon energy source, to reliably supply electricity to AI infrastructure was also cited as a strength.
Altman stated, "France's success is based on policies that encourage innovation and create conditions where businesses can thrive," but expressed skepticism by adding, "Whether similar measures will be adopted at the EU level remains to be seen."
The French government is co-chairing the AI Action Summit with India, held at the Grand Palais in Paris on the 10th and 11th. Approximately 1,000 participants, including heads of government, AI company representatives, and civil society stakeholders, will discuss concrete measures for the responsible development and use of AI technology.
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