Maurice Lévy Urges Europe To Launch €100 Billion AI Fund
Publicis chairman Maurice Lévy has called on France and Germany to spearhead the creation of a pan-European artificial intelligence investment fund, arguing that European businesses remain overly dependent on American AI providers that can restrict access to advanced models without warning.
Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, Lévy said Europe should establish a €100 billion ($115 billion) fund dedicated to supporting artificial intelligence development across the continent. He presented the proposal as a strategic response to concerns about Europe’s reliance on foreign technology providers.
According to Lévy, recent disruptions involving access to advanced AI systems exposed vulnerabilities for European companies that depend heavily on external platforms and infrastructure.
Call For A Continental AI Investment Strategy
Lévy argued that Europe requires a large-scale investment vehicle capable of supporting innovation, infrastructure and competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
“There is a need to create a fund at a European scale,” he told Reuters in Paris.
He compared Europe’s dependence on foreign AI providers to relying on someone with complete control over a switch that can be turned on or off at any moment. As a result, he warned that European businesses could face significant operational risks if access to advanced AI technologies were suddenly restricted.
The proposed fund would aim to strengthen Europe’s technological independence and provide resources for companies developing and deploying AI solutions across the region.
Concerns Over Reliance On U.S. AI Providers
The Publicis chairman pointed to what he described as a shock experienced by European companies after losing access overnight to frontier artificial intelligence models developed by U.S. startup Anthropic.
According to Lévy, the episode demonstrated how vulnerable European organisations can become when key technologies are controlled by providers based outside the continent.
Consequently, he believes Europe must reduce its dependence on foreign AI platforms and accelerate investment in domestic capabilities. The concern extends beyond convenience or cost, touching on broader issues of competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.
France And Germany Seen As Key Drivers
Lévy noted that the concept of a European AI investment initiative is not entirely new. He referenced previous efforts by France and Germany to deepen cooperation on digital technologies and innovation.
He also highlighted later initiatives linked to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that sought to strengthen Europe’s technological position.
However, Lévy suggested that greater urgency is now required as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to economic growth, productivity and industrial competitiveness.
AI Viewed As A Strategic Priority
The advertising executive argued that artificial intelligence should be treated as a strategic sector for Europe. In his view, dependence on foreign technology providers could undermine the competitiveness of European businesses and, in some cases, threaten their ability to operate effectively.
As governments worldwide race to secure leadership in AI, Europe continues to face questions about how it can compete with the substantial investments being made by the United States and China.
Lévy’s proposal adds to the growing debate over technological sovereignty and the role governments and institutions should play in supporting the next generation of AI infrastructure and innovation.
With inputs from Reuters