Altman names Macron the world's most impressive leader on AI
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Decoded by POLITICO that French President Emmanuel Macron impresses him most among world leaders on AI policy, as Macron nears the end of his final term in 2027.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has named French President Emmanuel Macron as the world leader whose approach to artificial intelligence has impressed him most, in an interview with Decoded by POLITICO's Brendan Bordelon.
Asked which political figure stood out to him on AI policy, Altman said Macron immediately came to mind, describing the French leader as deeply thoughtful and someone who has long considered where AI technology is heading and what shape it should take.
Timing of the praise
The comment carries weight for two reasons. Macron has positioned himself as a leading voice pushing AI safety internationally, and he is nearing the end of his political career — barred from seeking a third term in the next presidential election, set for April 2027.
Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, currently leading in polls, takes the opposite stance. According to three senior officials from her National Rally party, Le Pen favors deregulating AI. The party also wants to reduce France's reliance on foreign tech firms, reportedly considering a sovereign wealth fund to support domestic companies such as OVH and Mistral, alongside preferential treatment for French firms in public procurement. Some party figures have floated repatriating French capital held in American tech — party official Alexandre Loubet cited a figure of €80 billion — without detailing how this would work.
Macron himself has long championed Mistral, the French AI lab. Next month he is set to host the Paris Peace Forum, one of his signature diplomatic initiatives, with this year's edition focused on AI safety and the risks the technology poses to children and teenagers.
The interview appears in the debut edition of Decoded by POLITICO, published Monday, alongside a companion podcast and video interview.
