Europe stands at a crossroads in the AI revolution. Here are some of my thoughts on that, as I have just arrived to Paris for the AI Action Summit, hosted by French President @EmmanuelMacron and India’s Prime Minister @narendramodi. I’m honored to speak later today on how Sweden became a European hotspot for startups. After Silicon Valley, Stockholm has the highest number of unicorn startups per capita in the world. Sweden is a nation of engineers and builders. The rise of AI will be a defining moment—reshaping industries we take for granted today. Europe has navigated technological revolutions before—and emerged stronger. During the last Industrial Revolution, we harnessed steam engines, railroads, and telecommunications to propel Europe into an era of unprecedented prosperity. Now, we have a new challenge. And once again, we will rise to meet it. I reject the idea that Europe is no longer a place where tech thrives. I know the perception exists and we should never become complacent. But the reality is different. European politicians must foster a better business climate, but entrepreneurs also need to act. Start building, innovate and take risks. When you encounter obstacles, tell us. We are listening—and we are ready to act. As Prime Minister of Sweden, my top priority at this summit is making Sweden and Europe even better places to start, build and scale up tech companies. Cutting bureaucracy and reducing unnecessary regulations is an essential first step. What remains must be clear, simple, and easy to comply with. We must encourage technological creativity and experimentation while safeguarding fundamental rights like freedom of speech. Some may ask why Sweden is leading in innovation. There are many reasons, but one stands out—our capital market works. In Sweden, investing in startups is not just for the elite. Unlike most European countries, we have made it easy and beneficial for every citizen to invest their savings directly in the stock market rather than keeping them idle in savings accounts. This broad access to capital fuels both new and established companies, driving innovation. The results speak for themselves. In the past decade, Sweden has seen over 500 IPOs—more than Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands combined. Here in Paris, I am eager to listen to entrepreneurs and fellow policymakers—to understand how we can improve even further. But I am also here to send a message: Europe must not lag behind in the next wave of innovation. Sweden is not at all perfect but we have shown what’s possible. Now, we must ensure that Europe, as a whole, remains a place where world-changing technologies are born and becomes a place where they grow big.