Von der Leyen’s call for talks on pausing AI can’t quell extinction risk fears
The EU chief used her annual State of the European Union address to confront rising panic about AI. What she said showed the limits on her power.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a self-proclaimed AI optimist, delivered a sobering State of the European Union address, unveiling AI as one of the "two tipping points of our time" and acknowledging the technology's potential dangers. While she framed AI warnings as a call for "more serious safety," her most concrete response to calls for a temporary halt in AI development was a cordial invitation for "discussion" with industry leaders.
Von der Leyen emphasized Europe's human-centered approach to AI, citing the EU's AI rules as a potential foundation for global regulations, but she did not urge world leaders to join the conversation — particularly President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, who have dismissed calls for AI regulation as a "hoax." Her cautious stance risks positioning Europe as a bystander amid a global scramble over AI safety standards.
Despite her optimism about AI's potential benefits, von der Leyen admitted that risks have become more pronounced, and Europe finds itself in a bind between staying competitive in the global AI race and addressing the technology's safety concerns.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
