Macron attends launching of French AI center at World Economic Forum

Macron oversaw the signing of a deal to establish a new AI research centre in Paris after urging the EU at Davos to resist economic coercion. His remarks followed U.S. tariff threats linked to opposition over Greenland.

Reuters

January 21, 2026

Macron attends launching of French AI center at World Economic Forum

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026.

Denis Balibouse/Reuters

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026.

French President Emmanuel Macron attended the launch of a new centre for research into artificial intelligence on Tuesday (January 20) after he addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Representatives of the WEF and France's Vivatech signed the deal to set up the new AI centre in Paris as Macron looked on, wearing sunglasses his office said was due to sensitivity to light caused by a burst blood vessel.

In his speech earlier, Macron said the European Union should not bend to "the law of the strongest," adding that it was "crazy" that the bloc was having to contemplate using its "anti-coercion instrument" against the United States.

Trump announced tariffs on Saturday (January 17) on imports from European allies that oppose the U.S. acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Production: Lewis Macdonald/Reuters