All over the world, public administrations are embracing artificial intelligence. The arguments in its favor are well known, including greater quantitative efficiency, the use of automation, and stricter enforcement of rules. So why have French central government administrations opted for a measured approach to AI development? Numerous reports (from ministries, the Council of State, agencies, etc.) highlight this unusual approach, which is very much in line with the precautionary principle that prevails in France when analyzing innovations. This chapter attempts to explain why French administrations are taking longer to integrate AI into their activities. There are many obstacles: cultural and social resistance, institutional, technical and political barriers, and ethical and societal issues. Based on experiments with generative AI and machine learning conducted by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance and on experiences abroad, it examines the gradual adoption of AI in central government and its consequences for the quality of public services. This study highlights the advantages and limitations of the choices made in France and in a few countries considered to be more advanced in the implementation of AI within the central government.