French President Emmanuel Macron is uniquely engaging with artificial intelligence by appearing in AI-generated videos, gaining substantial traction on social media.
On Instagram, Macron is featured dancing to Desireless’s “Voyage Voyage,” acting in a spy comedy with Jean Dujardin, and performing a rap by Nekfeu. His reaction to these clips—”Nicely done” and “It made me laugh”—shows his light-hearted appreciation. However, he acknowledges AI’s serious potential to transform healthcare, energy, and everyday life.
'Cool' Macron uses his deepfake videos to promote AI summit
➡️ https://t.co/Xt4a90o2t4 pic.twitter.com/DwtRGoKsiJ
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) February 9, 2025These videos are part of Macron’s campaign to publicize the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris. The event, co-chaired with India, aims to position France and Europe at the forefront of AI innovation. It will focus on seizing opportunities and upholding European principles in AI development.
The posts have drawn significant engagement, amassing over 73,000 likes and mixed reactions from followers, some of whom initially thought Macron’s account was hacked due to the unconventional content.
#MacronOnFirstpost | French President @EmmanuelMacron on AI-generated deepfakes: "I posted the video to start a debate." | Firstpost-France TV Exclusive@20h30ledimanche @FranceTV @franceinfo @LaurentDelahous @Palkisu pic.twitter.com/Kr9dtBjPDC
— Firstpost (@firstpost) February 9, 2025Furthermore, France is positioning itself as a leader in the AI domain, hosting multiple AI-centric events and initiatives. A notable venture involves collaborating with the United Arab Emirates to establish a one-gigawatt AI data centre, costing $30-$50 billion. This project is part of a broader strategy to foster a strategic AI alliance focusing on joint projects and investment in AI technologies.
Overall, Macron’s use of AI-generated content and the upcoming AI Action Summit underscore France’s strategic efforts to shape the future landscape of artificial intelligence.
