Is curtailing AI an illusion for the EU, despite von der Leyen's pledge?
The European Commission president's vision of Europe shaping the AI race has drawn a mixed response from MEPs, with sceptics noting that most of the world's leading AI developers are based outside Europe.
Ursula von der Leyen pledges that the European Union will lead the way in regulating artificial intelligence (AI), positioning the bloc alongside the United States and China. However, critics argue that the EU's efforts are merely empty rhetoric. The EU currently lacks a dominant AI model and limited influence over the companies developing the technology, which are primarily located outside of Europe.
Michael McNamara, an Irish MEP, points out that many of the most significant AI developers are outside of Europe and are unlikely to adhere to von der Leyen's comments. He highlights the EU's inconsistent record on AI safety, citing the AI Act and AI Liability Directive, which were initially proposed but later withdrawn. McNamara expresses skepticism about the impact of von der Leyen's latest pledge on AI developers.
Despite the contradictions, some MEPs remain supportive of von der Leyen's stance. Italian MEP Brando Benifei, co-chair of the Parliament's AI working group, praises the AI Act, stating that it positions Europe as a leader in AI safety. He emphasizes the need for European cloud capabilities, chips, unified capital, and a public AI research center to transform regulatory leadership into technological power.
The EU faces a significant AI investment gap, capturing less than 5% of the global $1 trillion AI investment, compared to 75-80% in the US and 10-14% in China. The continent's only major AI company, Mistral AI, is valued at $24 billion, far behind US giants OpenAI and Anthropic, which are valued at $852 billion and $965 billion, respectively. Even China's AI industry has market leaders like DeepSeek, valued at $52 billion, Moonshot AI at $31.5 billion, and Zhipu AI at $141 billion.
Von der Leyen's focus is primarily on regulation, with the EU AI Act coming into effect in August 2024. She believes the act will provide essential guardrails and enable the EU to shape global AI efforts. She also plans to seek cooperation with allies, including Canada, the UK, and others, on model evaluation, verification, early warning, AI security, and more.
Talks with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and government officials are scheduled for November. Von der Leyen further promises to introduce a "Quality Jobs Act" by the end of 2026 to develop skills, improve job quality, and provide workers with fair opportunities.
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