Europe's Ambition to Compete in AI: The Next Steps
The European Union has a significant opportunity to challenge the dominance of the United States and China in artificial intelligence (AI), according to experts. The next move, however, lies with the European Commission. “We hope that during the summit, the Commission will announce the initial steps of its roadmap for AI,” one expert explains.
Building the Foundation for AI Development
Several key initiatives critical to advancing AI — such as talent development, computing power, and funding mechanisms — are best addressed at the European level, she adds. “We continue to expect progress that goes beyond what has already been announced.”
Collaborating on Health Data
Another key focus of the summit is uniting willing countries around shared initiatives, note Anne Bouverot and Martin Tisné, who are closely involved in guiding AI policies in Europe. In February, Tisné plans to introduce an international organization focused on “digital commons” to promote an open, collaborative approach to technology development. “There’s currently a global fragmentation of organizations promoting the public interest, and we need to work on a larger scale,” he tells POLITICO.
The proposed organization aims to create a collaborative platform for sharing high-quality training data, enabling AI to advance in cutting-edge fields. This initiative, however, must carefully balance privacy considerations and collective needs. Health data is a prime example of such challenges. “Health data is among the most sensitive topics, particularly regarding its collection and use,” Tisné explains.
A Focus on Health and Education
While acknowledging the complexity of these endeavors, Tisné emphasizes their importance. “I’m not going to promise miracles within the 48 hours of the summit on such a challenging area, but if we want to seriously explore AI’s positive impact, we must address health and education. These are critical sectors,” he insists.
Engaging Stakeholders and Securing Funding
Over the past few months, Tisné, founder and leader of AI Collaborative, has been consulting with stakeholders through a dedicated WhatsApp group for AI representatives and advocates. His efforts have dual goals: convincing key players to join the initiative and securing funding. Tisné is seeking equal contributions from both public and private sources to support the project.
By fostering collaboration and leveraging Europe’s unique strengths, the summit represents a pivotal moment for the EU to assert itself in the global AI landscape.
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