Favour AI researchers to win global race, French report says

Government committee recommends rewriting civil service rules for AI specialists, alongside huge upswing in spending

Public research institutions in France should be granted an “artificial intelligence exception” to pay scientists in the field higher salaries than their peers and free them from as much administrative burden as possible, according to the government’s AI Commission.

The commission, which was set up in September by president Emmanuel Macron to suggest ways to bring France to the forefront of AI development globally, published its report on 13 March. It promotes a massive investment in AI, with 25 recommendations across almost all areas of society that would cost an estimated €27 billion over five years, or 0.3 per cent of total public spending.