When you think of influential AI gatherings, names like Yann LeCun, Eric Schmidt or Xavier Niel come to mind—leaders who are charting the course for the future of artificial intelligence. But what if I told you that Pruna AI, a young startup that hasn’t even announced its fundraising or its official integration into the Meta European AI Program, was right there among them at a gathering hosted by the French Presidency Bureau, l'Élysée?

Pruna at the Heart of France’s AI Movement

On May 21st, in the "gathering of France's Top Artificial Intelligence Talents," we were honored to stand alongside these heavyweights of the industry. The question is, how did a startup like ours earn a place in such a prestigious lineup?

The answer lies in our vision: Pruna AI is one of the very few companies that sees itself as a true European AI Champion. With our French/German DNA, we’ve positioned ourselves not just as participants but as leaders in shaping AI's future in Europe. Indeed, our researchers are distributed between Paris and Munich, and we've had the chance to productize innovations born from over 30 years of cumulative research experience and more than 300 published papers at leading conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, and ICLR. This unique perspective earned us an invitation to join discussions that could potentially influence the trajectory of AI in France and beyond.

At the event, we actively participated in workshops and conferences, sharing our insights and expertise on AI efficiency, which is our core strength. Beyond discussing technical topics, our biggest takeaway was gaining a clearer understanding of our role—as both a company and as individuals—in the broader AI landscape, where governmental agendas also come into play.

Building a Vision for France’s AI Future

To put it in perspective, consider the UK’s AI Safety Summit (AISS) in 2023. It was a landmark event that set a new global benchmark by focusing on the safety of emerging AI technologies, backed by industry leaders and international stakeholders. France, too, wants a seat at that table in the AI governance game, and Pruna AI is here to help make that happen.

This leads us to the second phase of our journey: our recent invitation on September 25th to brainstorm for an upcoming, high-level “Artificial Intelligence Action Summit.” Now the event name and date are officials, we can share that we were among a select group of 100 panelists entrusted with shaping the strategic dimensions of this summit.

During this session, one of our key recommendations was to adopt a holistic approach to compute resources. Instead of focusing solely on hardware or software, we advocated for a comprehensive strategy that addresses all aspects of compute, from infrastructure to energy efficiency. We also contributed to discussions on AI frugality, echoing the objectives of the REEN Law, which requires cities with over 50,000 inhabitants to publish their digital sustainability strategy (including AI initiatives) starting from January 1, 2025. Additionally, we emphasized AI sovereignty, highlighting the need to build a European AI champion hub. In our view, Europe is always stronger when its countries, like France and Germany, collaborate to tackle these challenges head-on.

As a final note, we had another exciting opportunity to attend the Berlin Global Dialogue with President Macron. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict kept us from joining, but it’s a reminder of the growing role Pruna AI plays on the European AI stage.

An Open Invitation: Let’s Build Together

As we move forward, we’d like to extend an open invitation to every member of the French administration: cities, departments, universities, and institutions. Let's work together to promote AI frugality and efficiency. We believe that by uniting our efforts, we can build a sustainable, collaborative, and forward-thinking AI landscape in Europe.

If you share our vision for a more efficient and responsible AI future, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can make AI not just a technology of the present but a sustainable force for the future.