NATO is preparing to establish a new artificial intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in Rennes, France, with formal approval from member states expected in June.
According to La Lettre, Rennes was selected due to its established cybersecurity and defense technology ecosystem, which includes key organizations involved in France’s military AI and cyber defense efforts.
NATO Centres of Excellence support alliance activities through training, doctrine development, interoperability, and experimentation.
The planned AI center is set to focus on applying artificial intelligence to command and control, intelligence, cyber operations, targeting, and decision-making processes. It is expected to employ around 50 personnel.
Once established, the hub will become part of NATO’s wider network of specialized Centres of Excellence covering key operational and technological domains.
The effort was reportedly initiated in 2025 by Sébastien Lecornu, who was serving as France’s defense minister at the time.
