Denis Shilov, cofounder of White Circle

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Interview

September 18, 2026

‘It’s the modern nuclear arms race’: safety expert Denis Shilov on slowing down AI

Shilov launched Paris-based startup White Circle in 2025 to help companies deploying AI to keep the behaviour of the models they use under control

AI is a high-risk technology that should be treated with similar levels of scrutiny as the nuclear industry, according to Denis Shilov, founder of Paris-based AI safety startup White Circle.

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Daphné Leprince-Ringuet

Daphné Leprince-Ringuet is a senior reporter for Sifted, based in Paris. She covers French tech and writes Sifted's AI and Deeptech newsletter . You can find her on X and LinkedIn

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