The EU Commission wants Europe to become a global leader of the Artificial intelligence (AI) Making: The AI continent action plan presented in Brussels on Wednesday is intended to increase the EU’s Innovation capacities of the EU and cover Europe with a network of AI factories and supercomputers. The Investai program is to mobilize 20 billion euros for up to five gigafabrics in the Union. In Austria, too, the “Ai Factory Austria” (AI: AT) is created.
Only 13 percent of EU companies would use AI, said Henna Virkkuns, Vice President of the EU Commission for Technical Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, in the press conference. However, AI would open up opportunities in many areas. “Artificial intelligence is the centerpiece to make Europe more competitive, safe and technologically sovereign. The global race for AI is far from over. The time to act is now. This action plan outlines the key areas in which the effort must be intensified in order to make Europe a leading AI continent,” said the Finn.
AI supercomputer also in Austria
A AI factory is already being built up in Austria: The “Ai Factory Austria” (AI: AT) initiative is intended to strengthen the Austrian ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI) for research, companies and public institutions. Specifically, a new AI-optimized supercomputer is purchased and a AI hub is built up, which is intended to serve as a one-stop shop, coworking space and central contact point for the community. The project is headed by Advanced Computing Austria (ACA) and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) in cooperation with scientific and industrial partners, the consortium announced in March.
For cooperation with US companies, for example at AI factories, Commissioner Virkkuns said that the EU was always very open to US technology. On the one hand, it also emphasized the importance of good partnerships with partners all over the world that the EU had to expand its own capacities. The EU has the “strongest research community in the world”, and can “be very competitive in this sector”, she was convinced.
AI innovations need data and talents
According to the Commission, AI innovations also need access to large quantities of high-quality data and the right talents. Data Labs are said to merge and coordinate large, high-quality data quantities from various sources in AI factories. With Talentpools, the Commission wants to promote international recruiting highly qualified AI experts and researchers. In order for more companies to use AI, Brussels wants to get a AI strategy on the way and reduce regulations. In the press conference, Virkkuns emphasized that this does not mean a dilution of the “AI Act”, which regulates the AI at EU level.
The Commission is in the process of watching and simplifying all regulations, not only the AI law, emphasized the Finn. In addition to less bureaucracy in sustainability reporting and joint agricultural policy (GAP), the so-called “omnibus suggestions” also provide for simplifications in the digital area. The aim is that around a quarter less bureaucracy should burden companies. The Vice President emphasized that the AI Act is very committed to its principles and main goals. Legal certainty is important for innovation. “I don’t see that it harms someone when we reduce some bureaucracy.”
Ai act still applies
The “AI Act” provides for stricter regulation of artificial intelligence. According to the rules, developers must clearly identify that texts, pictures and tones created by artificial intelligence are based on this technology. The EU Ordinance also ensures the quality of the data used for the development of the algorithms and ensure that no copyrights are violated in the AI development. There should be stricter requirements for “risky” applications, for example in the case of critical infrastructure, security authorities and personnel management.
“As a state secretary, I welcome the European Commission’s AI Continent plan. We have no time to lose when it comes to AI. The plan sets an important impulse to strengthen Europe technologically and strategically position. Promote innovation and at the same time guarantee legal certainty, “emphasized State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) in a message.
The SPÖ-EU MPs Elisabeth Grossmann and Hannes Heide saw a chance for Europe in the plans. “Digital innovation is good for Europe – for our competitiveness, but also to make us more independent of international tech corporations such as Meta and Co.,” said the SPÖ in a broadcast. However, both EU parliamentarians warned of regulation.