France's Thales urges international framework on AI development

Thales Advocates International Framework to Govern AI in Finance and Defense

Thales Calls for Global AI Regulation in Defense and Finance Sectors

By Florence Loeve

Thales CEO Emphasizes Need for Government Oversight

PARIS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Europe's largest defence technology firm, France-based Thales, called on Thursday for an international framework to govern the development of artificial intelligence.    

Speaking at a presentation of war-fighting technology amid a debate over the speed of AI development, CEO Patrice Caine told reporters that machines could be kept under control with adequate technical safeguards supported by government oversight.

Technical Safeguards and Government Responsibility

"I am convinced that we have the ways and means to have AI under control. It's not a technical debate, it falls in the hands of governments," Caine told reporters. 

"The world needs a proper framework that comes on top of these technical guarantees," he said.

International Debate on AI Regulation

The call for regulation came a day after Finance Minister Roland Lescure urged France and Europe to accelerate AI development to avoid dependence on US providers, amid a broader debate over whether AI should have more guardrails.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed calls by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other Silicon Valley bosses to slow the pace of AI development.

AI’s Expanding Role in Military Operations

AI is playing an increasingly important role on the battlefield, analysing data from drone footage and satellite imagery to identify targets and help commanders make faster decisions.

European Sovereignty and Competition in AI Command Systems

ITAR-FREE

European companies are touting their own AI-based command and control (C2) software after NATO selected US analytics giant Palantir Technologies' Maven Smart System for headquarters operations.

Concerns Over Data Security and Dependence on US Providers

    Analysts say France and other European countries worry how such companies could use and store their data, as well as the possibility of Washington pulling the plug.

Palantir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thales’ Hexaforce and Other European Innovations

Thales described its own AI-based "Hexaforce" as a "sovereign" C2 system free from US ITAR export controls.

In Germany, Berlin is evaluating 30 AI tools after its military ruled out Maven for now, Handelsblatt has reported.

Market Competition and Interoperability Challenges

"The battle is only beginning," Caine said when asked about the market for such systems. But he declined to be drawn into a direct public battle with Palantir, with which experts say Thales would need its systems to remain interconnected.

"We didn't pronounce the word Palantir since the beginning — you did," he said when asked about the company co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, whose growth has sparked debate in Europe about reliance on US technology.

"The solution provided by Palantir addresses quite a very tiny part of NATO use," Caine said. Other French companies working on C2 systems include startups Mistral AI and Comand AI.

(Reporting by Florence Loeve, Writing by Florence Loeve, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Tim Hepher. Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Mark Potter)