EU takes a page from Ireland’s AI playbook

The European Union is looking to Ireland for guidance on how to regulate artificial intelligence, while also investing in the technology to keep up with the US and China. Ireland, an early adopter of AI, will host an international AI summit in Dublin, showcasing its efforts to integrate the technology into the economy.

EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, believe that a strong governance framework is necessary to prevent AI from becoming uncontrollable, but they also recognize the importance of investing in AI to avoid falling behind other nations.

Currently, only 20% of companies in the EU use AI, with that number rising to 55% for larger businesses. Most of these applications involve simple tasks, but the EU aims to increase the adoption rate.

While Europe possesses only 5% of the world's data centre capacity, the bloc is investing billions in AI giga factories, which will feature advanced processors and energy-efficient data centres. However, some experts argue that simply increasing data center capacity is insufficient; political leadership is needed to identify and address the challenges associated with this technological transformation.

Ireland, with its high adoption rate and favorable location, is seen as a potential driving force for AI development in Europe. However, the country also faces challenges related to its heavy reliance on US tech giants, the strain on infrastructure due to the rapid expansion of data centers, and opposition from local residents.

A counter-summit held prior to the main event highlighted these issues, with a researcher suggesting that Ireland might benefit from a moratorium on data center development to allow policymakers to develop a more progressive green industrial strategy.