France launches artificial intelligence initiative with Morocco as founding country

The PMIA ministers will meet again at the PMIA Council meeting in Bratislava in December 2025 - PHOTO/ SOCIAL NETWORKS

Margarita Arredondas

12 de febrero de 2025 (10:00 h.)

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The project, which has a budget of approximately 400 million dollars, aims to develop artificial intelligence systems in France and Europe

France, together with several international partners, including Morocco, has announced the launch of a new initiative in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

According to Le Figaro, the initiative aims to raise 2.5 billion dollars over the next five years and develop systems to assess the social and environmental impact of AI.

The project, called ‘Current AI’, has as its main objective the development of artificial intelligence systems in France and Europe, with the aim of boosting global innovation, according to a statement from the French government. The statement, issued on Sunday, came on the eve of France's AI Action Summit.

Morocco joins as a founding country of the Current AI association, along with Nigeria and Kenya, as well as Germany, Finland, Chile, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Furthermore, this initiative will further strengthen the already strong ties between Morocco and France, expanding their bilateral collaboration in key areas such as artificial intelligence and new technologies.

Google, the software developer Salesforce and the AI Collaborative group are also part of the project, which has a budget of 400 million dollars and the backing of technology giants, including Arthur Mensch.

Morocco is committed to continuing to adopt artificial intelligence as a key tool to accelerate development in various sectors, such as education, healthcare and other fundamental fields. However, despite this global momentum, Rabat is aware of the challenges that artificial intelligence could also entail.

As part of the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Paris, France, Serbia and Slovakia brought together several dozen ministers from signatory states of the PMIA at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs - PHOTO/ SOCIAL NETWORKS

Last week, Amina Bouayach, president of the Moroccan National Human Rights Council (CNDH), called for the development of a national strategy focused on AI and the opportunities it offers for the digital landscape.

During an event at Hassan I University in Settat, the president of the CNDH called for the development of an independent strategy that focuses on the opportunities that artificial intelligence can offer to boost Morocco's development.

Human rights, she emphasised, ‘do not necessarily conflict with technological and digital advances’ and do not constitute ‘an obstacle to innovation and progress’.

Morocco has emphasised the importance of adopting artificial intelligence in various sectors, including education.

Morocco has stressed the importance of adopting artificial intelligence in various sectors, including education - PHOTO/FILE

In this sense, last January, a Moroccan delegation proposed the development of an Arab initiative to improve the use of artificial intelligence in education during a conference in Doha.

Younes Shimi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, highlighted Morocco's initiatives to integrate AI into its education system. He focused particularly on its application to combat school dropout and improve academic performance.

Shimi also emphasised the importance of training teachers in the field of AI, in order to enhance their skills and better meet the needs of students. He also recalled the educational reforms underway in Morocco, highlighting that the 2021-2026 government programme continues to implement these changes through the 2022-2026 roadmap, with the aim of achieving ‘a quality public school for all’.