Brussels: The European Commission announced a 1 billion euros (USD 1.1 billion) plan on Wednesday to enhance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in key sectors, as part of the European Union (EU)'s efforts to reduce its dependence on US and Chinese technologies.
According to Kuwait News Agency, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that AI must be developed in Europe, emphasizing the need for widespread AI adoption. She highlighted that the strategies under this plan aim to accelerate the process and promote an 'AI first' mindset across sectors such as robotics, healthcare, energy, and automotive. Von der Leyen underscored the objective of supporting Europe's strategic autonomy amid ongoing trade tensions with the US and China, and the prevailing influence of US tech giants.
EU Technology Commissioner Henna Virkkunen pointed out that only 13 percent of European companies utilized AI last year, but the trend is on an upward trajectory. The Commission aims to increase this figure to 75 percent by 2030. Virkkunen encouraged European companies to prioritize EU solutions when possible, while recognizing that it may not always be feasible. The funding for this initiative will be drawn from EU programs such as Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme. The plan includes establishing AI-powered screening centers in healthcare and developing intelligent industrial and environmental systems.
The Commission's strategy highlighted concerns that external dependence on AI system components could be exploited, increasing the risk of supply chain disruptions. To address these challenges, the European Commission plans to present a Data Union Strategy at the end of October, aiming to align data policies with the needs of businesses, the public sector, and society.