Le directeur de Meta AI : un « complexe d'infériorité » freine la technologie européenne.

      Europe is not short on talent; it simply lacks confidence. This is the conclusion drawn by Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, who believes that a "complex of inferiority" among European media and investors is hindering the continent's tech sector. LeCun stated in an X post, “The primary reason the European tech industry is small is the incorrect belief in technological inferiority by the European media.” He added, “Additionally, investors have also harbored a similar inferiority complex, making them less inclined to take risks when American competitors emerged. However, this mindset has been shifting in recent years.”

      This hesitation to make significant investments is evident in the funding disparity between Europe and the United States. Even with a population more than twice as large, European tech companies face challenges in attracting the investments that their American counterparts receive. In 2024, U.S. startups raised $178 billion, which is over three times the $51 billion raised by European companies, according to Crunchbase.

      LeCun's remarks were in reaction to an X post by Arnaud Bertrand, the French founder of the rental marketplace HouseTrip, who has faced his own challenges in building a startup in Europe. Bertrand established HouseTrip in 2009, just a year before the launch of Airbnb, which aimed to make apartment bookings as straightforward as hotel reservations but ultimately fell short against its American competitor. Airbnb, now valued at more than $80 billion, has become one of the most successful tech ventures globally.

      HouseTrip struggled to contend with the well-funded unicorn that is Airbnb. Two years after Airbnb entered the European landscape in 2012, Bertrand resigned as CEO. In 2016, TripAdvisor purchased the company for an undisclosed amount and integrated it into the travel site Holiday Lettings.

      Today, Bertrand took to social media to counter a recent article from the Wall Street Journal that criticized Europe’s tech sector. The piece, published on Monday, attributed the region’s sluggish growth to overregulation, fragmented markets, restricted access to capital, and a risk-averse business environment. While Bertrand acknowledged some of these criticisms, he emphasized that they are "all secondary."

      He summarized the main issue facing European startups with one word: patriotism. “There is practically [no patriotism] in Europe, and that is primarily what is stifling EU startups or hindering their growth,” he remarked. Bertrand believes that a lack of patriotism among investors and media in Europe deterred support for local startups, which contributed to his own company’s struggle against Airbnb.

      LeCun, however, sees the root causes differently, stating, “I wouldn’t label this a lack of patriotism; it’s more accurately described as a lack of self-confidence.”

      The competitiveness of Europe's tech sector will be a significant topic at the TNW Conference, set to take place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are currently available—use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at checkout for a 30% discount.