EU president pledges over $206 billion to AI development to stay ahead of the game

During the recent AI Action Summit in Paris, EU President Ursula Von der Leyen pledged that the bloc would accumulate $206 billion (200 billion Euros) for investments into artificial intelligence in the region. The amount raised will combine 150 billion to be raised by investors and the industry and 50 billion Euros that the bloc will top up. 

Von der Leyen explained that the U.S. and China had not yet won the AI dominance race. She further mentioned that the funding would introduce the hugest private-public sector partnership to develop transparent and secure AI technology. The commission’s president also highlighted the relevance of the applications, including fueling gigafactories to process larger data models. 

The European Commission president pointed out the backlash the region was receiving due to its alleged lagging behind in AI regulation and development. Von der Leyen said that the statements were incorrect and that the AI race was ‘far from over.’ She added that the EU would focus more on industry-specific AI applications to place the region ahead of the race. 

Further commenting, Von der Leyen explained the need for the EU to approach AI development uniquely, including combining global talent and leveraging manufacturing data. She also stated the advantages of the approach it would take, including for sectors like healthcare and security, while boosting the region’s competitiveness in the industry.

The EU lags behind in the AI race; France’s President 

The French President Emmanuel Macron spoke during a recent CNN interview on AI progress in the EU. According to Macron, the region was not in the AI race and insisted that the region was lagging behind. The French President added that the region required a strong AI agenda to bridge the current gap between the U.S. and China’s progress in the industry. Macron further expressed worry about the EU’s future standing as an AI consumer instead of a leader. 

The interview report pointed out that the French President advocated for AI development during the recent AI summit, including mentioning the French AI company Mistral. The country is strongly affiliated with technological development, as seen in its focus on nuclear energy and its plans to unveil the largest supercomputer in the world in the coming months. Macron has also teased building about 20% of the world’s data centers within Europe. 

A December Euro News report voiced worries similar to those of Macron, saying the region was at risk of becoming a digital colony instead of a digital sovereignty. The report cited the findings of the French Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (OPECST), which explored how the U.S. currently dominates AI.

The authors commented on the need for policy creation that would advance AI and digital technology in the EU. The report further suggested that Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain launch a joint European AI project.

U.S. Vice President says U.S. is the leader in AI

U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke during the summit, claiming that the U.S. is the global AI leader. JD Vance also mentioned that the Trump administration would ensure that the country would prioritize its leadership in the sector. The president has taken several steps to fuel the U.S.’s dominance in technology, including signing an executive order dedicated to the expansion of digital assets and AI technology.

JD Vance further bashed the EU for its steps toward AI expansion in the region, saying tighter regulations would not be favorable for the industry’s development. The vice president further highlighted that a risk-averting approach would cripple the progress in the AI industry. Vance insisted that the U.S. would take steps against the EU’s policies that could ‘tighten the screws’ on any U.S.-based tech companies. 

The U.S. Vice President also warned that the country would take steps to block other countries’ efforts to use AI to create propaganda, strengthen the military, intelligence, and surveillance, and gather foreign data. JD Vance added that more action would be taken against authoritarian regimes that used AI to undermine the national security of other regions.

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