On a crisp evening in Paris, a select group of thought leaders and innovators gathered for “An AI Night in Paris”—Noxtua’s first exclusive, invite-only roundtable dedicated to exploring one of Europe’s defining challenges: how to secure sovereignty in an era shaped by AI.
Hosted and moderated by Joséphine Mansour (CEO of Noxtua France), the event brought together a lineup of distinguished speakers: Guillaume Decorzent (DG Direction générale des entreprises), Théo Patrier Delunsch (Chief Operations & Transformation Officer, Pluxee), Dr. Leif-Nissen Lundbæk (CEO & Co-Founder, Noxtua), Emmanuel Ronco (Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP), and Olivier Chaduteau, PhD (CEO & Co-founder, DayTwo). Together, they engaged in a candid, in-depth exchange about the transformation of the legal sector through AI—examining issues of sovereignty, regulation, funding, and professional responsibility.
What emerged was more than a conversation about technology; it was a sober reflection on Europe’s capacity to remain independent, ethical, and competitive in the AI-driven future.
Beyond “European Hosting”: The Meaning of True Sovereignty
Sovereignty, as the panelists noted, is often misunderstood. Hosting data in Europe on a cloud infrastructure owned by a US-hyperscaler doesn’t make a system sovereign. Real digital sovereignty means having control – over standards, infrastructure, data, and ethical frameworks.
As one participant remarked, “Companies in California should not be the ones deciding what definitions we use in Europe.” The statement captured the subtle yet substantial reality that Legal AI solutions must be rooted in European control, not just European geography. Without that independence, confidentiality and trust – the backbone of legal practice – are at risk.
Regulation: Finding Balance Between Trust and Innovation
Europe’s dual framework – the GDPR and the AI Act – embodies the continent’s effort to define safe, rights-based technology use. The GDPR emphasizes individual data control, while the AI Act introduces a risk-based classification system.
Striking the right balance is essential. Overregulation threatens to slow innovation, yet underregulation risks eroding trust. Sound regulation is the foundation of a trustworthy ecosystem, or as one panelist noted: “The AI Act is not just there to annoy companies – it actually has a point.”
Financing and Building European AI Champions
No matter how strong the regulation, Europe’s technological sovereignty cannot thrive without capital. Unfortunately, fragmented capital markets and complex procurement systems still make it more difficult for European AI companies to grow. Without addressing structural financial limitations, Europe risks becoming a consumer rather than a creator of the technologies defining its future.
Echoing the success of Airbus as a symbol of European cooperation, Noxtua’s CEO called for a collective “AIrbus moment” for Legal AI – unified investment and collaboration to create European champions capable of competing globally.
Culture, Professional Ethics, and the Human Element
Sovereignty also depends on culture and professional integrity. Just as GDPR helped make privacy part of mainstream awareness, AI safety and transparency must become public priorities. The legal profession, in particular, carries a heightened duty: Lawyers are the guardians of confidentiality and must ensure that AI tools never compromise client trust.
Every professional remains accountable for the decisions and judgments AI influences. Sovereignty, in this sense, extends beyond nations – it lives in each practitioner’s responsibility to uphold integrity in the face of automation. Or as one speaker cautioned: “AI is like an extremely fast intern – it must always be supervised.”
A Sovereign Future for Legal AI
“An AI Night in Paris” concluded with a unifying vision: Europe must lead with sovereignty, not follow with compromise. That requires a blend of values, strategy, and courage.
Sovereignty and confidentiality must remain non-negotiable.
Balanced regulation must protect users without stifling progress.
Investment and coordination are essential to grow European champions.
Ethical responsibility must guide every professional using AI.
To sum it up: AI already is transforming the legal profession. And whether Europe shapes that transformation or adapts to the rules of others depends on one crucial choice – how much sovereignty it is willing to claim.
