Ursula von der Leyen: AI race ‘is far from over’

 

Europe Carves Its Own Path in the Global AI Race

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it clear at the AI Action Summit in Paris that Europe has no intention of playing catch-up in the global AI race. While the United States and China are often perceived as frontrunners, von der Leyen emphasized that the race "is far from over" and that Europe possesses distinct strengths that position it as a leader in the field.

Shaping the Future of AI

“This is the third summit on AI safety in just over a year,” von der Leyen remarked. “In that same period, three new generations of increasingly powerful AI models have emerged. Some experts predict that within a year, AI models could approach human reasoning.”

She underscored the shift from previous summits, which focused on establishing AI safety principles, to the current summit’s emphasis on action. “We have built a shared consensus that AI must be safe, uphold our values, and benefit humanity. Now, this summit is about action—and that is exactly what we need right now.”

As AI’s impact continues to grow, von der Leyen urged Europe to define its vision for the technology, integrating AI into key economic sectors and addressing pressing global challenges. She argued that Europe has a unique opportunity to lead through strategic investment and innovation.

A European Approach to AI

Von der Leyen rejected the idea that Europe is lagging behind its competitors. “Too often, I hear that Europe is late to the race, while the U.S. and China have surged ahead. I disagree,” she stated. “The frontier is always shifting, and global leadership is still within reach.”

Rather than mimicking other regions, she called for Europe to leverage its own strengths, particularly in science and technology. “Instead of chasing others’ successes, we should focus on what we do best. Europe has long been a leader in scientific and technological innovation, and we must build on that foundation.”

She highlighted three core pillars of the “European brand of AI” that distinguish it from global competitors:

1. A focus on high-complexity, industry-specific applications.
2. A cooperative, collaborative approach to innovation.
3. A commitment to open-source principles.

“This summit demonstrates that Europe has its own distinct AI approach,” von der Leyen affirmed. “It is already driving innovation and adoption, and momentum is building.”

Accelerating AI Innovation: Factories and Gigafactories

To maintain its competitive edge, Europe must rapidly expand its AI infrastructure. One crucial element of this strategy is Europe’s investment in computational resources. The continent already hosts some of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and these are now being utilized through the establishment of “AI factories.”

“In just a few months, we have launched 12 AI factories,” von der Leyen revealed. “We are investing €10 billion in these projects—this is not just a promise; it is happening right now. It represents the largest public investment in AI worldwide and is set to unlock more than ten times that amount in private investment.”

Beyond AI factories, von der Leyen announced an even more ambitious initiative: AI gigafactories, modeled on the scale of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. These facilities will provide the necessary infrastructure for training AI systems on an unprecedented scale and will serve as hubs for collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

“We are creating the computational power infrastructure,” von der Leyen explained. “We welcome talent from around the world, and industries will be able to collaborate and federate their data.”

She stressed that while AI development requires competition, collaboration remains essential. “AI needs both competition and cooperation,” she noted, emphasizing that AI gigafactories will serve as “safe spaces” for joint innovation efforts.

Building Trust Through the AI Act

Ensuring AI safety and trustworthiness remains a core priority for Europe. Von der Leyen reiterated the importance of the EU AI Act, positioning it as a unifying framework to replace fragmented national regulations across member states.

“The AI Act will create a single set of safety rules across the European Union—covering 450 million people—rather than 27 different national regulations,” she stated, acknowledging that businesses must also be supported in navigating these regulations. “At the same time, we must simplify processes and reduce red tape. And we will.”

Securing €200 Billion in AI Investments

To finance Europe’s ambitious AI agenda, von der Leyen highlighted the EU AI Champions Initiative, which has already secured €150 billion from industry leaders, investors, and technology providers.

During the summit, she announced a complementary initiative—InvestAI—which will contribute an additional €50 billion. Together, these efforts will mobilize a staggering €200 billion in public-private AI investments.

“We will focus on industrial and mission-critical AI applications,” she stated. “This will be the world’s largest public-private partnership dedicated to the development of trustworthy AI.”

Ethical AI: A Global Responsibility

Von der Leyen concluded her address by framing Europe’s AI ambitions within a broader ethical context. She argued that responsible AI development is a shared global responsibility.

“Cooperative AI can be valuable far beyond Europe, including for our partners in the Global South,” she emphasized, promoting inclusivity in AI advancements.

She expressed strong support for the newly launched AI Foundation, which aims to ensure equitable access to AI technologies. “AI can be a gift to humanity. But we must ensure that its benefits are widespread and accessible to all.”

“We want AI to be a force for good. We want AI that fosters collaboration and benefits everyone. That is our path—our European way.”

See Also: AI Action Summit: Leaders Call for Unity and Equitable Development

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