Cédric O

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Cédric O
Cédric O
Born18 12, 1982
BirthplaceL'Arbresle, France
NationalityFrench
OccupationPolitician, entrepreneur
Known forSecretary of State for the Digital Sector (2019–2022), co-founder of Mistral AI
EducationHEC Paris

Cédric O (born 18 December 1982) is a French politician and technology entrepreneur who served as Secretary of State for the Digital Sector in the governments of Prime Ministers Édouard Philippe and Jean Castex under President Emmanuel Macron from March 2019 to May 2022. A member of La République En Marche! (LREM), O was one of Macron's closest advisers during the movement's rise to power and played a central role in shaping France's digital policy, including efforts to regulate major technology platforms, implement a national cloud strategy, and navigate the country's response to COVID-19 through digital contact-tracing tools. After leaving government, he became a co-founder of Mistral AI, a Paris-based artificial intelligence startup that emerged as one of Europe's most prominent AI companies. In 2024, O launched a new venture in the education technology sector called The Marshmallow Project.[1] His career has spanned the intersection of politics, technology policy, and entrepreneurship, making him a notable figure in European digital affairs.

Early Life

Cédric O was born on 18 December 1982 in L'Arbresle, a commune in the Rhône department in southeastern France.[2] His surname, consisting of a single letter, has attracted public attention; however, such short surnames, while uncommon, are not unheard of in France and can occasionally cause administrative complications with digital systems that require a minimum number of characters.[3] He is of Korean descent on his father's side.[4]

O's sister, Delphine O, is also active in French politics and public life.[2] He attended the Lycée du Parc in Lyon, one of France's prominent preparatory schools known for preparing students for entry into the grandes écoles.[5]

O has been described in French media as part of the close circle of friends and allies who helped propel Emmanuel Macron to the presidency. A 2017 profile in Vanity Fair France described him as a member of "la bande de copains" — the group of close associates — who were instrumental in Macron's rise to the Élysée Palace.[6]

Education

Cédric O studied at the Lycée du Parc in Lyon before entering HEC Paris, one of France's most prestigious business schools.[5][2] HEC Paris is consistently ranked among the top business schools in Europe and has produced numerous leaders in French business and politics. O graduated from HEC Paris, which formed the foundation for his subsequent career in both the private sector and government.[7]

Career

Early Career and Advisory Roles

Before entering government, O worked in the private sector and became involved in Emmanuel Macron's political movement. He was part of the inner circle that helped build La République En Marche! from its founding.[8] Le Monde described him as a "proche conseiller d'Emmanuel Macron" — a close adviser to the president — who worked behind the scenes on the political project that culminated in Macron's election victory in 2017.[9]

As TechCrunch described in 2019, O's trajectory involved working "behind the scene with French President Emmanuel Macron" before his sudden elevation to ministerial office.[10] His deep familiarity with the technology sector and policy landscape positioned him as a natural candidate for a digital portfolio when the opportunity arose.

Secretary of State for the Digital Sector (2019–2022)

On 31 March 2019, O was appointed Secretary of State for the Digital Sector (Secrétaire d'État chargé du Numérique) in the government of Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, succeeding Mounir Mahjoubi in the role.[11][12] French media characterized him as "le nouveau geek du gouvernement" (the new geek in government), reflecting both his relative youth and his technology-oriented profile.[7]

O served under President Emmanuel Macron, initially under Prime Minister Philippe and subsequently under Prime Minister Jean Castex following the government reshuffle in July 2020. He retained the digital portfolio throughout, serving continuously until 20 May 2022, when he was succeeded by Jean-Noël Barrot.[12]

Technology Regulation

A significant aspect of O's tenure was his approach to the regulation of major technology companies. He advocated for stricter oversight of large technology platforms while simultaneously seeking to promote the growth of European and French technology startups.

In January 2020, amid rising tensions between France and the United States over France's digital services tax on large technology companies, O stated publicly that France would not back down on the levy despite threats from the US of a trade war. In an interview with The Guardian, he framed the tax as only "the start" of broader efforts to regulate the digital economy.[13]

O took a notable position on content regulation of social media platforms. He expressed support for platform accountability regarding online content, stating at one point that he was "100% d'accord" (100% in agreement) with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's call for governments to take a more active role in regulating internet content — though this alignment on the principle of regulation did not extend to agreement on the specifics of implementation.[14]

After leaving office, O reflected critically on the power of large American technology companies. In a 2022 interview with Politico, he dismissed Big Tech's concerns over European Union regulation and promoted the bloc's attractiveness to technology startups, warning of what he described as the dangers of the "American dream" model for Europe's digital sovereignty.[15]

COVID-19 Contact-Tracing App

During the COVID-19 pandemic, O played a central role in the French government's efforts to develop and deploy a digital contact-tracing application. The project, known as StopCovid, was intended to alert users if they had been in proximity to someone who tested positive for the virus.

The development of StopCovid was marked by a public dispute with Apple over the technical architecture of the app. France chose a centralized approach to data collection, which conflicted with the decentralized model favored by Apple and Google for their exposure notification frameworks. In April 2020, O accused Apple of refusing to provide the necessary technical cooperation, specifically regarding Bluetooth functionality on iOS devices, to make the French app work effectively.[16]

The contact-tracing app also faced scrutiny over privacy concerns. O acknowledged that the app would not be ready for demonstration when the French parliament was scheduled to debate the matter, adding to the political challenges surrounding the initiative.[17]

Cloud and Digital Infrastructure

O oversaw significant investments in France's digital infrastructure. In November 2021, he presented a plan to invest €1.8 billion in support of the French and European cloud computing industry. The initiative was part of broader efforts under the Macron government to bolster European digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on American cloud service providers.[18]

In a 2020 interview, O articulated the French government's ambition for digital leadership in Europe, stating that France wanted to be "at the top of Europe" in the digital sector. His portfolio encompassed a wide range of issues including support for the French tech ecosystem, digital transformation of public services, and negotiations at the European level on digital regulation.[19]

Departure from Government

In March 2022, ahead of the end of his tenure, O announced that he would leave politics. Libération reported that the secretary of state for digital affairs was stepping away from political life.[20] He formally left office on 20 May 2022 and was succeeded by Jean-Noël Barrot.

Mistral AI

After leaving government, O became a co-founder of Mistral AI, a Paris-based artificial intelligence startup that would become one of the most prominent AI companies in Europe. The company, focused on developing large language models, attracted significant attention and investment, positioning itself as a European competitor to American AI firms such as OpenAI.

O's role at Mistral AI brought him back into the public debate over technology regulation, this time from the perspective of an industry participant rather than a government official. In October 2023, as the European Union was finalizing its landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, O warned that the legislation as drafted could have severe consequences for European AI startups. In an interview with Sifted, he stated that the EU's AI Act "could kill our company," characterizing it as a "zero or one regulation" for European generative AI startups like Mistral.[21]

In December 2023, Bloomberg reported that O had pushed for looser AI rules at the European level, a position that represented a shift from his earlier stance as a government minister who had backed more aggressive technology regulation. Bloomberg noted the tension between his past support for regulation and his current advocacy for a lighter regulatory touch on foundation models, the category of AI systems developed by Mistral.[22]

The Marshmallow Project

In 2024, O launched a new venture in the education technology sector called The Marshmallow Project. According to Sifted, the startup was nearing a seed funding round of approximately €10 million as of November 2024. The publication described O as an "advisory cofounder" of Mistral AI in its reporting on the new venture, suggesting a transition in his involvement with the AI company as he turned his attention to the education sector.[23]

Personal Life

Cédric O has a sister, Delphine O, who is also involved in French politics and public affairs.[2] His single-letter surname has been a recurring topic of media interest in France, with coverage noting both its Korean origins and the practical difficulties it can pose in administrative and digital systems designed to require longer name entries.[24]

O has been a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.[25] He has also been involved with advisory work for the European Space Agency, participating in an independent advisory group that presented a report on the European space revolution to ESA.[26]

After announcing his departure from politics in early 2022, O transitioned into the technology entrepreneurship sector, co-founding Mistral AI and subsequently launching The Marshmallow Project in the education technology space.[27]

Recognition

O's tenure as Secretary of State for the Digital Sector placed him at the center of several high-profile policy debates that garnered international attention. His confrontation with Apple over the StopCovid contact-tracing app during the COVID-19 pandemic was covered extensively by international media, including Reuters and the Financial Times.[28][29]

His role in championing France's digital services tax on large technology companies drew coverage from outlets including The Guardian and Politico, establishing his profile as an advocate for European digital sovereignty.[30][15]

As a co-founder of Mistral AI, O became associated with one of Europe's most closely watched technology startups, further raising his international profile in the technology and business press, with coverage from Bloomberg, Sifted, and other outlets.[31]

Legacy

Cédric O's career has spanned the intersection of French politics and the European technology sector during a period of rapid transformation. As Secretary of State for the Digital Sector from 2019 to 2022, he was responsible for articulating and implementing France's digital ambitions under the Macron presidency, including the €1.8 billion cloud investment plan and the government's position on technology taxation and platform regulation.

His trajectory from government minister to technology entrepreneur illustrates the evolving relationship between European policymakers and the technology industry. His shift from advocating for technology regulation in government to cautioning against overly stringent AI regulation as a startup co-founder has been noted by observers as emblematic of the tensions inherent in European technology policy — the desire to foster homegrown innovation while also seeking to constrain the power of dominant technology platforms.[32]

Mistral AI's emergence as a significant European competitor in the generative AI space has given O's post-government career a dimension that extends beyond national French politics. The company's development of large language models represented part of a broader European effort to establish competitive alternatives to American-dominated AI development.

His subsequent launch of The Marshmallow Project in the education technology sector in 2024 suggested a continued focus on applying artificial intelligence technologies to new domains, extending his engagement with the technology sector beyond his initial post-government venture.[33]

References

  1. ↑ "Mistral cofounder and former tech minister Cédric O nearing €10m seed deal for new AI edtech startup".Sifted.2024-11-15.https://sifted.eu/articles/cedric-o-the-marshmallow-project-news.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Qui est Cédric O, le nouveau secrétaire d'État au Numérique?".Le Figaro.2019-04-01.http://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/qui-est-cedric-o-le-nouveau-secretaire-d-etat-au-numerique-20190401.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Un nom de famille à une lettre comme Cédric O: pas si rare mais cela peut causer des problèmes".BFMTV.https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/un-nom-de-famille-a-une-lettre-comme-cedric-o-pas-si-rare-mais-cela-peut-causer-des-problemes-1664291.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Remaniement: 5 choses à savoir sur Cédric O, nouveau secrétaire d'État au Numérique".Le Parisien.2019-04-01.http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/remaniement-5-choses-a-savoir-sur-cedric-o-nouveau-secretaire-d-etat-au-numerique-01-04-2019-8044083.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Qui est Cédric O, le nouveau secrétaire d'État au Numérique?".Journal du Net.https://www.journaldunet.com/ebusiness/le-net/1422883-qui-est-cedric-o-le-nouveau-secretaire-d-etat-au-numerique/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "La bande de copains qui a porté Macron à l'Élysée".Vanity Fair France.https://www.vanityfair.fr/actualites/articles/article-mag-la-bande-de-copains-qui-a-porte-macron-a-lelysee/58171.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Cédric O, le nouveau geek du gouvernement".Les Echos.https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/gouvernement/cedric-o-le-nouveau-geek-du-gouvernement-1005538.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Le conseil de la République en Marche".En Marche.https://en-marche.fr/articles/actualites/le-conseil-de-la-republique-en-marche.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Cédric O, un proche conseiller d'Emmanuel Macron, au secrétariat d'État au Numérique".Le Monde.2019-03-31.https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2019/03/31/cedric-o-un-proche-conseiller-d-emmanuel-macron-au-secretariat-d-etat-au-numerique_5443948_823448.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "How France's new digital minister plans to regulate tech".TechCrunch.2019-04-03.https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/03/how-frances-new-digital-minister-plans-to-regulate-tech/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Remaniement: qui est Cédric O, qui remplace Mounir Mahjoubi?".RTL.https://www.rtl.fr/actu/politique/remaniement-qui-est-cedric-o-qui-remplace-mounir-mahjoubi-7797335686.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Cédric O".Gouvernement.fr.https://www.gouvernement.fr/ministre/cedric-o.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "France's digital minister says tax on big tech is just the start".The Guardian.2020-01-12.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/frances-digital-minister-tax-on-tech-giants-just-the-start-cedric-o-gafa.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Réguler internet: Cédric O est 100% d'accord avec Zuckerberg".L'Express.https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/reguler-internet-cedric-o-est-100-d-accord-avec-zuckerberg_2070627.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "France's ex-digital minister slams Apple — and the American dream".Politico Europe.2022-05-27.https://www.politico.eu/article/american-dream-danger-digital-minister-cedric-o-fighting-french-tech/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "France accuses Apple of refusing help with StopCovid app".Reuters.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-tech/france-accuses-apple-of-refusing-help-with-stopcovid-app-idUSKBN22H0LX.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "French COVID tracing app will not ready when parliament debates it".Reuters.https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-france-privacy/french-covid-tracing-app-will-not-ready-when-parliament-debates-it-idUSP6N2BO00X.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "French government to pour €1.8 billion into national and EU cloud industry".Euractiv.2021-11-02.https://www.euractiv.com/news/french-government-to-pour-e1-8-billion-into-national-and-eu-cloud-industry/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Cédric O – 'We want to be at the top of Europe'".Table.Briefings.2020-07-24.https://table.media/en/europe/heads-en/cedric-o-we-want-to-be-at-the-top-of-europe.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Le secrétaire d'État au Numérique Cédric O arrête la politique".Libération.2022-03-08.https://www.liberation.fr/politique/le-secretaire-detat-au-numerique-cedric-o-arrete-la-politique-20220308_SR5LQKTP35HFZFVSPTDWZTRUIE/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "'EU's AI act could kill our company,' says Mistral's Cédric O".Sifted.2023-10-26.https://sifted.eu/articles/eu-ai-act-kill-mistral-cedric-o.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Former French Official Pushes for Looser AI Rules After Joining Startup".Bloomberg.2023-12-13.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-13/mistral-ai-s-cedric-o-pushed-to-loosen-eu-s-ai-rules.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Mistral cofounder and former tech minister Cédric O nearing €10m seed deal for new AI edtech startup".Sifted.2024-11-15.https://sifted.eu/articles/cedric-o-the-marshmallow-project-news.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Un nom de famille à une lettre comme Cédric O: pas si rare mais cela peut causer des problèmes".BFMTV.https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/un-nom-de-famille-a-une-lettre-comme-cedric-o-pas-si-rare-mais-cela-peut-causer-des-problemes-1664291.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Council Members".European Council on Foreign Relations.http://www.ecfr.eu/council/members.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Independent advisory group presents report on European space revolution to ESA".European Space Agency.https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Independent_advisory_group_presents_report_on_European_space_revolution_to_ESA.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Le secrétaire d'État au Numérique Cédric O arrête la politique".Libération.2022-03-08.https://www.liberation.fr/politique/le-secretaire-detat-au-numerique-cedric-o-arrete-la-politique-20220308_SR5LQKTP35HFZFVSPTDWZTRUIE/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "France accuses Apple of refusing help with StopCovid app".Reuters.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-tech/france-accuses-apple-of-refusing-help-with-stopcovid-app-idUSKBN22H0LX.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ Financial Times.https://www.ft.com/content/13d30034-f649-11e9-a79c-bc9acae3b654.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "France's digital minister says tax on big tech is just the start".The Guardian.2020-01-12.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/frances-digital-minister-tax-on-tech-giants-just-the-start-cedric-o-gafa.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  31. ↑ "Former French Official Pushes for Looser AI Rules After Joining Startup".Bloomberg.2023-12-13.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-13/mistral-ai-s-cedric-o-pushed-to-loosen-eu-s-ai-rules.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  32. ↑ "Former French Official Pushes for Looser AI Rules After Joining Startup".Bloomberg.2023-12-13.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-13/mistral-ai-s-cedric-o-pushed-to-loosen-eu-s-ai-rules.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  33. ↑ "Mistral cofounder and former tech minister Cédric O nearing €10m seed deal for new AI edtech startup".Sifted.2024-11-15.https://sifted.eu/articles/cedric-o-the-marshmallow-project-news.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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