Google opens AI research centre in Paris

US tech giant Google will open an artificial intelligence research centre in Paris, the French government has announced. This is part of a trend for major tech companies to base teams in European centres, AFP reports.

In recent years, Google has invested in its engineering facility in Zurich, which also houses teams from Meta, Apple and Microsoft focused on AI.

Amazon, another big player in AI research, has teams based in several locations in Germany and the UK.

AI encompasses a wide range of technologies based on algorithms and big data processing that help develop everything from online advertising to smartphone cameras.

Google's new institute will host at least 300 researchers in the French capital, according to a statement released by France's finance ministry.

"Google's investment in France shows once again how attractive France and Europe are for technology firms, especially in the field of artificial intelligence," the statement said.

The French capital has long sought to be considered a cutting-edge hub for tech firms, and Meta set up an artificial intelligence research team there in 2015 / BGNES