The European Union is committing €200 billion (approximately $206 billion) to boost its artificial intelligence sector, aiming to compete with advancements in the US and China.
During the AI Action Summit held in Paris, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that €50 billion (around $51 billion) would be added to the €150 billion (about $154 billion) already promised through the European AI Champions Initiative, a coalition of private investors.
Von der Leyen emphasized the EU’s goal to lead in AI development, declaring, “We want Europe to be one of the leading AI continents.” She acknowledged previous perceptions of Europe lagging behind but asserted that the race for AI is not yet concluded.
The newly introduced “InvestAI initiative” is designed to accelerate the development of gigafactories, which are essential for training advanced AI. This announcement followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge of €109 billion (around $112 billion) for AI in France, likening it to former President Trump’s significant investment in AI infrastructure.
These measures are aimed at narrowing the technological gap with leading nations in AI, particularly in the wake of popular AI applications like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.
The EU has proactively established regulatory measures for AI, launching the AI Act last year. However, this regulatory approach received criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, who referred to it as “authoritarian censorship” and warned that excessive regulations might stifle innovation in AI.
The US and the UK have notably refrained from signing a declaration at the summit, which promotes principles for an ethical AI landscape. Von der Leyen highlighted the potential of AI to enhance healthcare, drive research, and improve competitiveness. “AI will be a force for good and for growth,” she said, underlining the EU’s commitment to an inclusive, transparent, and cooperative approach.
