Table of contents
- A historic investment: €200 billion for artificial intelligence
- Supercomputers and gigafactories: the roadmap to digital supremacy
- Competition and regulation: the key to Europe’s success
- The future of AI in Europe: Bologna and the gigafactories
- US and UK out of the game: a controversial move
- Conclusion: A historic opportunity for Europe
A historic investment: €200 billion for artificial intelligence
The European Union is raising the stakes in the global artificial intelligence race with an ambitious €200 billion investment plan.
At the AI Summit in Paris, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled InvestAI, calling it the world’s largest public-private partnership for developing trustworthy AI.
Addressing those who claim that Europe is lagging behind the US and China, Von der Leyen responded firmly:
- “The race for artificial intelligence is far from over. We are just at the beginning.”
- But what does this ambitious European AI strategy actually entail?
Supercomputers and gigafactories: the roadmap to digital supremacy
The InvestAI plan is built on two main pillars:
- Accelerating innovation
Europe already hosts some of the world’s fastest supercomputers. These will now be made available to startups and scientists to develop cutting-edge AI technologies. To kickstart this, the Commission is funding 12 AI factories with an initial €10 billion investment.
- Enhancing technological infrastructure
The next step is the creation of AI gigafactories, massive data and computing centers designed to train large-scale AI models.
Von der Leyen compared this initiative to the establishment of the CERN laboratory in Geneva, aiming to make Europe a global AI powerhouse.
Competition and regulation: the key to Europe’s success
While competition is vital for AI development, clear regulations are equally important. The new AI Act will introduce a single safety framework for 450 million Europeans, eliminating the need for 27 different national laws.
At the same time, the EU aims to cut bureaucracy and encourage private sector involvement. The European AI Champions initiative is expected to attract €150 billion from companies and investors.
The future of AI in Europe: Bologna and the gigafactories
By the end of the year, the Commission will announce the locations of new AI gigafactories. One confirmed site is IT4LIA at the Bologna Technopole, a hub for advanced computing.
This marks a turning point for Europe, seeking to reduce reliance on global tech superpowers.
US and UK out of the game: a controversial move
While the EU, China, France, and India signed a declaration for an open, inclusive, and ethical AI, the United States and the United Kingdom chose not to sign.
Their absence raises questions about the future of AI governance and the global effort to regulate and develop this technology.
Conclusion: A historic opportunity for Europe
The InvestAI initiative represents a crucial milestone for Europe’s technological future. The goal is clear: build competitive and trustworthy AI and lead the continent into the next digital revolution.
