AI in focus as Europe's biggest start-up conference opens in Paris

Thousands of tech start-up companies have gathered in Paris, bringing with them the latest in robotics and gadgetry.

This year's VivaTech is centered around artificial intelligence.

On the eve of the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron told an audience of engineers and entrepreneurs at the Elysée Palace: "We have the capacity to be one of the countries that are champions of AI."

It's one of Macron's key projects - as France confronts the digital transition.

AI will be looked at for how it can be used in sectors from healthcare, energy and agriculture, to manufacturing, finance, and marketing.

There are 2,800 exhibitors and 150,000 visitors are expected over the four-day event which will end on May 25.

Some of the biggest names in the world of tech are among the exhibitors, from Microsoft, Meta to Huawei.

There are robotics shows and exhibitions on cybersecurity while electric cars and self-driving technology will be on show. Advocates for environmentally-friendly industry will also be spreading the word on renewables and carbon emission reduction solutions. 

There are more than 40 national stands, from China and Korea to Bangladesh and Algeria.

Japan is the guest of honor this year, which gives the nation a chance to showcase its varied and highly developed tech landscape.

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SpaceX and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk will attend virtually, following his surprise in-person appearance, and hold a remote Q&A session later in the week.

The billionaire said earlier this month that his prediction is that artificial intelligence will soon surpass human intelligence. Musk said "intelligence that is biological will be less than one per cent."

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will also be at VivaTech to discuss the global energy transformation, while tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams will be sharing their thoughts on start-up investment.

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