EU rolls out $1.1 billion plan to ramp up AI in key industries amid sovereignty drive

[Daniel Nenni]

The European Union is rolling out a $1.1 billion plan, known as the "Apply AI" strategy, to increase the use of homegrown artificial intelligence within key industries and reduce its dependency on U.S. and Chinese technology. The move is aimed at boosting the EU's technological sovereignty and competitiveness.

Key industries and initiatives
The European Commission has targeted 10 critical sectors to accelerate AI adoption, providing specific measures and funding.

The sectors include:

• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: Projects will establish a network of AI-powered advanced screening centers to enable more accurate diagnoses.
• Manufacturing and climate: The plan will develop "agentic" AI tools, which are capable of taking autonomous actions to optimize systems and respond to changes.
• Energy and mobility: The funding will be used to deploy autonomous cars and develop AI solutions that improve efficiency.
• Defense and security: New sovereign AI models will be developed for sensitive sectors like defense to protect against foreign influence.
• Other key sectors: The initiative also targets construction, agri-food, communications, and culture.

Funding details and broader strategy

• Origin of funds: The €1 billion ($1.1 billion) will be mobilized from existing EU research programs, including Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme.
• Broader EU strategy: The Apply AI strategy is part of a larger push for AI leadership and technological autonomy. The EU has also passed the AI Act, which regulates AI development and deployment based on risk.
• Investment context: The new plan follows a report indicating the EU is lagging behind the U.S. and China in both private investment and public funding for AI. By pooling existing funds, the EU hopes to incentivize additional matching funds from member states and the private sector.
• Future plans: This initiative builds on the April 2025 "AI Continent Action Plan," a larger €200 billion strategy to create a pan-European AI ecosystem.

The concept of "AI sovereignty"

The EU's push for "AI sovereignty" is rooted in the geopolitical concerns of relying on non-EU AI technology.

• Risk mitigation: Dependence on foreign AI infrastructure, particularly from U.S. and Chinese firms, is seen as exposing Europe to risks of manipulation and coercion.
• Economic control: Keeping AI development, data, and value chains within the EU is intended to ensure that the economic benefits stay local.
• Ethical alignment: The EU's strategy emphasizes the development of "human-centric" and ethical AI, in line with its values and regulations like GDPR and the AI Act.

EU rolls out $1.1 billion plan to ramp up AI in key industries amid sovereignty drive

The European Commission on Wednesday announced a 1-billion-euro ($1.1 billion) plan to ramp up the use of artificial intelligence in key industries amid a push to cut the European Union's reliance on U.S. and Chinese technologies.

www.reuters.com

 

[hist78]

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The European Union is rolling out a $1.1 billion plan, known as the "Apply AI" strategy, to increase the use of homegrown artificial intelligence within key industries and reduce its dependency on U.S. and Chinese technology. The move is aimed at boosting the EU's technological sovereignty and competitiveness.

Key industries and initiatives
The European Commission has targeted 10 critical sectors to accelerate AI adoption, providing specific measures and funding.
The sectors include:

• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: Projects will establish a network of AI-powered advanced screening centers to enable more accurate diagnoses.
• Manufacturing and climate: The plan will develop "agentic" AI tools, which are capable of taking autonomous actions to optimize systems and respond to changes.
• Energy and mobility: The funding will be used to deploy autonomous cars and develop AI solutions that improve efficiency.
• Defense and security: New sovereign AI models will be developed for sensitive sectors like defense to protect against foreign influence.
• Other key sectors: The initiative also targets construction, agri-food, communications, and culture.

Funding details and broader strategy

• Origin of funds: The €1 billion ($1.1 billion) will be mobilized from existing EU research programs, including Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme.
• Broader EU strategy: The Apply AI strategy is part of a larger push for AI leadership and technological autonomy. The EU has also passed the AI Act, which regulates AI development and deployment based on risk.
• Investment context: The new plan follows a report indicating the EU is lagging behind the U.S. and China in both private investment and public funding for AI. By pooling existing funds, the EU hopes to incentivize additional matching funds from member states and the private sector.
• Future plans: This initiative builds on the April 2025 "AI Continent Action Plan," a larger €200 billion strategy to create a pan-European AI ecosystem.

The concept of "AI sovereignty"
The EU's push for "AI sovereignty" is rooted in the geopolitical concerns of relying on non-EU AI technology.

• Risk mitigation: Dependence on foreign AI infrastructure, particularly from U.S. and Chinese firms, is seen as exposing Europe to risks of manipulation and coercion.
• Economic control: Keeping AI development, data, and value chains within the EU is intended to ensure that the economic benefits stay local.
• Ethical alignment: The EU's strategy emphasizes the development of "human-centric" and ethical AI, in line with its values and regulations like GDPR and the AI Act.

EU rolls out $1.1 billion plan to ramp up AI in key industries amid sovereignty drive

The European Commission on Wednesday announced a 1-billion-euro ($1.1 billion) plan to ramp up the use of artificial intelligence in key industries amid a push to cut the European Union's reliance on U.S. and Chinese technologies.

www.reuters.com

Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by recent announcements of $100 billion or $500 billion projects and investments, does a $1.1 billion European Apply AI initiative now seem too modest?

 

[tooLongInEDA]

Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by recent announcements of $100 billion or $500 billion projects and investments, does a $1.1 billion European Apply AI initiative now seem too modest?

Probably so. But this is probably real cash (and extracted from taxpayers) rather than some whizzy, complex deal which few really understand and may be just a 21st century form of barter.

Not confident, based on past experience, that this is really going to move the needle for Europe. But politicians need to be seen doing something (and this is far more important than what actually gets done).

 

[Daniel Nenni]

At least they are applying AI to specific market segments. I'm just wondering how many jobs will be lost in the process? Tax payers are paying for it so it is just a little bit funny.

AI is already causing job losses in certain segments, particularly among entry-level, routine, or freelance roles. Coding jobs for sure. Customer support, our local car dealership is using AI for repair appointments. Marketing jobs will be hard hit, I am already seeing that in Silicon Valley. Healthcare and legal services will be streamlined, which is a good thing.

Go AI!!!!