EU leaders urged to 'act now' to stay AI competitive with US, China
EU leaders in Dublin were called on by an AI executive to move quickly in the tech race with the US and China. EU official Metsola, however, expressed frustration with the idea that the bloc is behind in AI development.
European Union leaders gathered in Dublin on Friday for the first-ever summit dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI). The meeting occurred at a pivotal moment as the bloc strives to establish a cohesive policy on the rapidly developing technology. French AI firm Mistral's CEO Arthur Mensch, along with Nobel laureate and AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton, also known as the "godfather of AI," addressed the EU leaders at the summit.
Mensch emphasized that Europe possesses the necessary technology and talent to lead in AI, but requires speed, financing, and robust coordination among member states to remain competitive with the US and China.
European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted the significance of AI, stating that it is the most important technology of our time. The summit came amid growing concerns about the emerging technology, which promises to revolutionize industries, labor markets, and societies. Additionally, it took place following a series of incidents involving rogue AI agents and the broader debate on AI's potential to harm humanity.
Tech leaders at the event faced scrutiny over recent incidents, such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's resignation following revelations about his relationship with a Chinese spy and a direct report in his company. During the summit, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed frustration that Europe had "somewhat lost the AI race." However, she reassured that the EU boasts world-class talent, technological expertise, and industrial experience to lead in AI.
The primary focus of the summit was to determine Europe's role within the AI movement. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas warned of the "dark side" of AI, citing its use in autonomous drones by Ukraine, capable of identifying and eliminating targets. EU leaders grappled with the challenges of unlocking AI's potential, catching up with China and the US in the technology race, and protecting against its risks to individuals and businesses.
Estonia and Finland had previously written a letter to the EU, demanding the establishment of EU-level arrangements for responding to serious AI incidents and responsible governance of advanced AI.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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