Dublin: European Union leaders are gathering in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday for their first dedicated strategic discussion on artificial intelligence, as the bloc seeks to strengthen its position in the global technology race and reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers. Discussions are expected to cover investment, computing infrastructure, regulation and AI safety, as well as ways to strengthen European businesses and technological capabilities.
The meeting comes at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important to economic growth, national security and international competition. European leaders are concerned that the bloc risks falling behind the United States and China, which have invested heavily in advanced technology, semiconductor production and large computing systems. European Council President António Costa has placed artificial intelligence among the important strategic issues facing the bloc. Leaders are expected to examine how Europe can develop its own technological capabilities, attract investment and give European businesses better opportunities to compete internationally.
Two prominent figures are expected to contribute to the discussions. Arthur Mensch, chief executive of French AI company Mistral AI, and Geoffrey Hinton, who received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to artificial intelligence, are expected to brief European leaders. Their participation reflects the different challenges facing Europe. While technology companies are seeking greater opportunities to develop advanced AI systems, researchers and policymakers are also concerned about the possible consequences of increasingly powerful technologies.
One of the main challenges for Europe is its dependence on foreign companies for advanced computing technology and semiconductor supplies. The United States and China have developed strong positions in the global AI industry, supported by major technology companies, substantial investment and access to advanced computing infrastructure. European leaders want to strengthen the continent's ability to develop its own technology and reduce critical dependencies on suppliers outside the bloc. They are also considering how to provide businesses with access to the computing power and investment needed to compete internationally.
The semiconductor industry is an important part of this strategy. The European Chips Act, adopted in July 2023, aims to increase Europe's share of global semiconductor production to 20 per cent by 2030. The initiative is intended to strengthen manufacturing capacity, support research and reduce dependence on foreign chip suppliers. However, Reuters reports that Europe is unlikely to achieve this target by 2030, raising concerns about the bloc's ability to expand its semiconductor manufacturing capacity quickly enough.
The EU is also pursuing plans to establish up to seven artificial intelligence gigafactories. These large facilities are intended to provide the computing capacity required to develop and operate advanced AI systems. The European Commission plans to provide up to 10 billion euros in EU and national public funding to attract at least 20 billion euros in private investment for the initiative. Although the programme has progressed towards procurement, disagreements over funding priorities and investment requirements remain challenges. Construction of the first facilities is expected to begin in 2027.
Alongside investment and infrastructure, AI regulation is expected to be another important subject during the meeting.
The European Union has already introduced the Artificial Intelligence Act, which entered into force on August 1, 2024. The legislation establishes rules for different categories of AI systems, aiming to protect people's rights and safety while allowing responsible technological development. European leaders are expected to consider how existing safeguards can protect fundamental rights, children's rights, democratic processes and employment while allowing businesses to innovate.
The debate reflects a difficult balance for the bloc. Strong regulations can help address risks involving privacy, discrimination and security, but European companies also need an environment that allows them to develop products and compete with international technology businesses. Concerns about the safety of increasingly advanced AI systems have also grown following incidents involving rogue AI agents. These developments have increased pressure on governments and technology companies to establish safeguards as AI capabilities continue to expand.
Meanwhile, developments in the global technology industry have added to the attention surrounding the meeting. NVIDIA announced on November 12 that its founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, had resigned with immediate effect. The company appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive and Harvey C. Jones as its new board chairman. The development highlights the importance of semiconductor companies in the global AI industry, where advanced processors and computing infrastructure are essential to technological competition.
The Dublin meeting is also taking place against a wider international political background. European leaders are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the bloc's role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The discussions follow diplomatic contacts involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. European countries are seeking to ensure that their interests are represented in negotiations that could shape Ukraine's future security.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for clearer European representation in the negotiations, arguing that different diplomatic arrangements could weaken the EU's position. European Council President António Costa has stressed the importance of representing European interests through EU institutions. Although Ukraine is an additional subject on the agenda, artificial intelligence remains the central focus of the Dublin gathering.
European leaders face the challenge of turning their ambitions into practical action through investment, infrastructure development and cooperation among member states. Their decisions and future policies will help determine Europe's position in the increasingly competitive global AI industry.