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France announced that its domestic intelligence service will replace Palantir's AI data tools with those from French provider ChapsVision, citing the need to eliminate "strategic dependency" on foreign technology. France's DGSI to Replace Palantir with ChapsVision Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu posted on social media that France must use its own AI models. The DGSI will transition to ChapsVision after a long‑term contract with Palantir was renewed in 2025, meaning the swap will take several years. ChapsVision, founded in 2019, aims to become the "technological foundation" for public agencies' critical data processing. Revenue Gap Highlights Scale of Switch ChapsVision reported €200 million in revenue for 2025. Palantir generated $4.5 billion in the same year, illustrating the size disparity between the domestic challenger and the US incumbent. France plans to invest €655 million in AI, including a shared chatbot for state services and a public‑health chatbot for Ameli. European Push for AI Autonomy Gains Momentum Germany's BfV has also selected ChapsVision, while its military is dropping Palantir tools. Britain is reviewing a £330 million NHS contract with Palantir, and London’s mayor blocked a £50 million deal with the firm. Recent U.S. restrictions on foreign nationals accessing Anthropic’s models have heightened European concerns over reliance on U.S. AI platforms. Future Outlook: Domestic AI Suppliers Poised for Growth With state backing, firms like ChapsVision could capture a larger share of public‑sector contracts across Europe. Continued political pressure may accelerate the development of homegrown AI models, such as those from French startup Mistral AI, already powering a government chatbot for civil servants. Legal challenges from Palantir, as seen in London, suggest a contentious transition period, but the strategic imperative for sovereignty appears to outweigh short‑term disruptions.

The Heatwave in Western Europe Seven people have died in France in an extreme early-summer heat event that is affecting a swathe of western Europe, as France and the UK set record highs for May and temperatures were forecast to rise further on Tuesday. Record Temperatures and Deaths "What I can say today is that there have been seven deaths linked directly or indirectly to the heat," a French government spokesperson, Maud Bregeon, told TF1 television, adding that five of the deaths were by drowning. Météo France, the national weather agency, said Monday's highest reading, 37.1C, was recorded near Hossegor, in the south-western department of Les Landes, and that temperatures across the west of the country could exceed 36C on Tuesday. The Data Analysis The UK's Met Office said Monday was the country's hottest May day on record, with temperatures hitting 34.8C at Kew Gardens, south-west London, a reading it described as "exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone May". In Spain, widespread highs of 36-38C in the Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys were expected to continue possibly until Friday, the state weather service, Aemet, said, adding that "in some of those areas, temperatures could reach 40C". The Impact Analysis In Italy's Lazio region, which includes Rome, authorities have imposed restrictions on work in conditions "with prolonged exposure in the sun", for example on farms, construction sites and in the delivery sector, between 12.30pm and 4pm. Eight of France's 96 administrative departments have been placed on an orange high-temperature alert, the second-highest level, requiring the population to "be vigilant and take precautions", with a further 20 on a more moderate yellow warning. The Prediction Christophe Cassou, a climate scientist, told Le Monde: "This is an unprecedented event with a one in 1,000 chance of happening at this time of year in the climate of 1979 to 2025." He added that "it would have been virtually impossible in the pre-industrial era". The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, called a meeting of key ministers on Thursday to assess government preparations for heatwaves after more than 350 weather stations across France recorded new monthly highs on Monday.