TLDR : A national plan, "Dare AI", aims to democratize AI in French businesses by 2030 through awareness, training, and support.
Table of contents
On July 1st, during an event at Bercy, Clara Chappaz, the Delegate Minister in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, presented "Dare AI", the latest component of the SNIA (National AI Strategy, launched by the President of the Republic in 2018). This national plan aims to spread AI to as many companies as possible by 2030, regardless of their size or sector.
The study "AI in French SMEs and Mid-caps: A Quiet Revolution", by Bpifrance Le Lab highlights the gap between the strategic perception of AI and its implementation. While it can increase productivity by 20% and growth by 16% over 10 years, only 13% of SMEs and 8% of very small businesses use AI today compared to 53% of large groups.
The goal of this new plan is for 100% of large companies, 80% of SMEs/mid-caps, and 50% of very small businesses to have integrated AI into their operations by 2030. To achieve this, three levers are identified: raising awareness, training, and providing support.
Raising Awareness Through a Network of 300 AI Ambassadors
AI intimidates: many companies, especially smaller ones, hesitate to take the plunge due to lack of time, resources, or clear guidance. A national network of 300 AI ambassadors will create a bridge between technology and real-world applications:
- "Public ambassadors" (business leaders, athletes, artists, etc.) will testify to the impact of AI in their sector and the benefits of AI in their professional daily lives;
- Sectoral and regional ambassadors, closely aligned with the specific challenges of each industry or activity area, in collaboration with France Num, Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Bpifrance, French Tech, or the France 2030 reference sub-prefects, will explain the concrete opportunities offered by AI and guide companies in their initial steps towards AI adoption.
Monthly business meetings will be organized between companies and AI solution providers starting next September, and a unifying event, modeled after the AI Business Day, will annually gather the French ecosystem around concrete uses of AI starting February 2026.
Massive Training Through an AI Academy
The second pillar is skill development. The government announces the launch, by the end of 2025, of the AI Academy, a public training platform bringing together tutorials, practical modules, and targeted content according to audiences (apprentices, employees, managers, job seekers, etc.).
The goal is ambitious: 15 million people trained by 2030, relying on existing programs (France 2030, CPF, Skills and Future Jobs), and mobilizing all training sectors from high school to continuing education.
Financing and supporting companies towards concrete applications
Finally, the plan sets up a set of operational tools to support companies in implementing AI. Among them:
- Data/AI diagnostics: nearly 5,000 diagnostics will be co-financed by the State via Bpifrance. An expert will intervene for 10 days to help companies conduct an initial technical and operational assessment, identify concrete and applicable use cases, and prioritize them based on their added value.
- A catalog of AI solutions and sectoral use cases, will facilitate access to existing technologies;
- A bank loan guarantee fund: state-guaranteed loans, up to several hundred thousand euros over 5 years, will support SMEs with structuring projects;
- Strengthened support for the creation of new French solutions: 100 companies with high potential impact will benefit from an acceleration program (18 months of support, collective training, and immersion in companies already engaged in AI) in a sovereign innovation logic.
According to Clara Chappaz, "Dare AI is a plan to act, a course to succeed". She concludes:
"AI is not a risk if we control it. It is an opportunity if we embrace it. Dare AI is here for that: to concretely support every company in this essential transformation".