France's Thales urges international framework on AI development

France's Thales, Europe's leading defence technology firm, has called for an international framework to regulate the development of artificial intelligence (AI). During a presentation of war-fighting technology, CEO Patrice Caine stressed that machines could be kept under control with proper technical safeguards and government oversight. Caine asserted that the issue is not a technical one, but rather falls under governmental jurisdiction.

The push for regulation came after Finance Minister Roland Lescure urged France and Europe to speed up AI development to prevent dependence on US providers. The debate surrounding AI development has also extended to the US, where President Donald Trump has dismissed calls from AI CEOs to slow down the technology's advancement.

AI is increasingly being utilized on the battlefield, where it aids in analyzing data from drone footage and satellite imagery to identify targets and enable commanders to make quicker decisions. European defence companies, including Thales, are developing AI-enabled targeting systems in response to NATO's selection of US analytics giant Palantir Technologies' Maven Smart System for command operations at its headquarters.

Thales highlighted its recently launched Hexaforce system, which aims to enhance both NATO and its allies' sovereignty and operational performance. The firm emphasized that it does not intend to directly compete with Palantir, whose rapid expansion has raised concerns in Europe about reliance on US technology platforms.