France’s startup ecosystem is undergoing a period of rapid change, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence and growing concerns about the country’s political future, according to new figures released by startup incubator Station F as it marks its ninth anniversary.

The Paris-based campus, regarded as the world’s largest startup incubator, has supported more than 9,000 startups since opening in 2017. Companies that emerged from the hub include Hugging Face, Pasqal and Pollen Robotics.

New data from Station F shows artificial intelligence has become a dominant force among resident startups. This year, the incubator launched its F/AI programme, attracting major AI firms, including Mistral AI.

According to the survey, 77 percent of startups said AI tools have reduced their hiring needs. Despite that, 82 percent reported they are either actively recruiting or expect to hire employees in the coming months.

One of the most widely used AI tools among startups at the campus is Anthropic’s Claude model, now used by 90 percent of teams. The result marks a major shift from last year when OpenAI held the leading position among AI providers at the incubator.

AI-related acquisitions have also become increasingly common. Earlier this year, cloud computing startup Koyeb was acquired by Mistral AI. Previous deals included the acquisition of Pollen Robotics by Hugging Face, reflecting continued consolidation within the sector.

The profile of startup founders is also changing. Station F reported that the average founder is now 36.5 years old, compared with 31 in 2018. Around 20 percent hold doctoral degrees, suggesting that technical expertise is playing a larger role in attracting investment and building companies.

The report also found that startup ambitions have shifted. Half of founders expect their businesses to end in acquisitions rather than public listings. Only 9 percent believe their companies will eventually launch an initial public offering, down from 16 percent a year earlier.

International talent remains a key feature of the campus. Roughly one-third of residents come from outside France, with more than 60 nationalities represented. After France, the largest foreign groups come from the United States, Morocco, Germany, the United Kingdom, Algeria and India.

Despite continued growth, political uncertainty has emerged as a significant concern. More than half of founders surveyed said France’s upcoming presidential election is among their biggest worries. Nearly half expressed concern about a possible far-right victory, while about a quarter were worried about a far-left outcome.

Many entrepreneurs cited immigration policy as a major issue, warning that tighter visa rules could make it harder to attract global talent and build internationally competitive businesses.

The findings highlight a startup sector that remains innovative and internationally connected, but increasingly focused on the political environment shaping its future.

An advanced artificial intelligence model developed by Anthropic identified vulnerabilities in highly sensitive US government computer systems within hours during a recent cybersecurity testing exercise, highlighting both the capabilities and risks associated with rapidly evolving AI technology.

The testing was conducted through Anthropic’s Project Glasswing initiative, a programme designed to evaluate how powerful AI systems can be used to strengthen cyber defenses while assessing potential threats to national security and critical infrastructure. According to a US official familiar with the exercise, the company worked closely with intelligence agencies to test its restricted-access model known as Mythos.

The official, speaking anonymously, said the AI was able to detect weaknesses across classified government networks in a matter of hours. While the system successfully identified vulnerabilities, officials stressed that finding security flaws does not necessarily mean the model could immediately exploit them.

The exercise attracted public attention after Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia referenced the findings during a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on June 11. Warner said information provided by the head of the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command indicated that the AI tool had penetrated nearly all classified systems tested, accomplishing in hours what traditionally could take weeks.

The results have intensified debate in Washington over how advanced AI systems should be managed and regulated. Anthropic has maintained a cooperative relationship with US government agencies on security research, but tensions have emerged between the company and the Trump administration over the deployment of its most powerful models.

Earlier this month, the administration issued a directive requiring Anthropic to restrict access to its latest AI systems, known as Fable 5 and Mythos 5, for foreign users. The order followed President Donald Trump’s executive action establishing a framework for reviewing national security risks associated with cutting-edge AI technologies before they are publicly released.

Anthropic responded by limiting access to certain models, though the company questioned whether the government’s restrictions were necessary. The firm has argued that concerns about cybersecurity risks should be balanced against the benefits AI can provide in strengthening digital defenses.

The directive has also drawn criticism from the technology sector. More than 100 cybersecurity specialists and executives from major technology companies, including Adobe and Nvidia, have signed a letter urging the government to reconsider the restrictions.

The group acknowledged that Anthropic’s models are highly effective at identifying software vulnerabilities and simulating cyberattacks. However, they argued that similar capabilities exist in other advanced AI systems and warned that limiting access to leading defensive technologies could weaken US cybersecurity efforts at a time when rival nations are investing heavily in artificial intelligence.

The debate reflects growing concerns over how governments and technology companies can balance innovation, security and competition as increasingly powerful AI systems reshape the cybersecurity landscape.