European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed the EU’s ambition to be a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising a distinct European approach to innovation, collaboration, and regulation.
Speaking at the third AI Summit in just over a year, held in Paris, she underscored the continent’s commitment to responsible AI development while competing with the United States and China.
Europe’s Place in the AI Race
Von der Leyen dismissed the notion that Europe is lagging behind in AI development. “Too often I hear that Europe is late to the race while the United States or China have already gotten ahead. I disagree because the AI race is far from being over,” she stated.
She argued that global leadership in AI remains open, as adoption across key economic sectors has only just begun.
She outlined Europe’s focus on industry-specific AI applications, highlighting opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, security, and knowledge dissemination.
“Bringing AI to industry-specific applications and harnessing its power for productivity and for people—this is where Europe can truly lead the race,” she added.
A Distinct European AI Model
Von der Leyen described a “European brand of AI” that builds on the continent’s strengths in science, technology, and industrial expertise. She identified three key features distinguishing Europe’s approach:
Complex Applications – European AI focuses on industry-specific and complex applications, leveraging unique manufacturing and industrial data.
Collaborative Innovation – AI development in Europe thrives on cooperation across borders and disciplines. “It is that same spirit of our collaborative approach to science which has produced many a breakthrough and a huge pool of talent,” she said, referencing the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
Open Source Adoption – Von der Leyen also highlighted the role of open-source AI in accelerating innovation. “Open source can spread much faster along with proprietary systems,” she noted, positioning it as a driver of competitiveness.
These factors, she argued, are already yielding results, with the European AI startup ecosystem expanding significantly. The number of AI-focused unicorns has increased tenfold in recent years.
Investment and Infrastructure for AI Growth
To accelerate AI innovation, the Commission is investing heavily in infrastructure and computing power. Von der Leyen announced that Europe’s fastest public supercomputers are now available to AI startups and researchers.
“In just a few months, we’ve set up a record of 12 AI factories and we’re investing €10 billion in them,” she revealed, describing it as the largest public investment in AI globally. She estimated that this would unlock more than ten times the amount in private investment.
In addition, she introduced plans for “AI Giga Factories,” which will provide large-scale computing infrastructure to support advanced AI models. She likened the concept to CERN in Geneva, which hosts the world’s largest particle accelerator. “We want the same to happen in our AI Giga Factories,” she said, outlining a vision where global talent collaborates in European AI research centres.
Von der Leyen emphasised the importance of making AI development accessible to all companies, not just large tech firms with significant financial resources. “We want AI developers to compete based on how innovative they are, not just on their access to chips or the size of their financial firepower,” she stated.
The Role of Regulation and Public Trust
As Europe invests in AI, von der Leyen stressed that ensuring safety and public trust remains a priority. She pointed to the AI Act, the EU’s landmark legislation that establishes a unified regulatory framework. “It provides one single set of safe rules across the European Union—450 million people instead of 27 different national regulations,” she said.
She acknowledged concerns about regulatory burdens and pledged to streamline procedures. “At the same time, I know that we have to make it easier and we have to cut red tape—and we will,” she promised.
Mobilising AI Investment in Europe
Von der Leyen announced new financial initiatives to support AI development, including the European AI Champions Initiative, which brings together €50 billion from private investors, industry, and technology providers. She further committed an additional €50 billion through the EU’s Invest AI programme, aiming to mobilise €200 billion in total AI investment.
“This will be the largest public-private partnership in the world for the development of trustworthy AI,” she stated. The focus will be on industrial and mission-critical applications, ensuring that AI advances serve European economic and societal needs.
Global Collaboration and AI for Good
The European Commission President also positioned the EU as a leader in global AI cooperation, particularly with developing nations. She announced full support for the AI Foundation, an initiative designed to make AI advancements accessible to countries in the Global South.
“AI can be a gift to humanity, but we must make sure that its benefits are widespread and accessible to all,” von der Leyen said, reiterating Europe’s vision of AI as a force for good.
Von der Leyen’s address at the AI Summit reinforced Europe’s strategic vision: a continent where AI is integrated into industry, driven by collaboration, and guided by strong but balanced regulation. With substantial investments, advanced infrastructure, and a distinctive approach to innovation, the EU aims to shape AI’s future on its own terms.
“This is our path, this is our European path,” she concluded.
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