EU leaders urged to 'act now' to stay AI competitive with US, China
European Union leaders met in Dublin for the first-ever summit on artificial intelligence, seeking a unified policy as the bloc faces mounting pressure to compete with the US and China.
The meeting took place at Dublin's Convention Center, which also hosted the European Political Community summit this week. European leaders gathered at a critical moment as they seek to establish a unified policy on the rapidly evolving technology that promises to transform industries, labor markets, and societies.
The summit comes amid growing concerns about AI's potential risks, including recent incidents involving rogue AI agents and broader discussions about how the technology might harm humanity. Tech leaders behind the technology have also faced scrutiny, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigning this week after revelations about his relationship with a Chinese spy.
Call for urgent action
French AI company Mistral's CEO Arthur Mensch and godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton addressed EU leaders during the summit. Mensch emphasized Europe's technological advantages while stressing the need for speed and coordination.
Mensch specifically urged leaders to act now to maintain competitiveness with the US and China in AI development. European Council President Antonio Costa highlighted AI's importance, noting its potential benefits from higher productivity to better public services while acknowledging the need to manage risks.
Balancing innovation and governance
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola rejected the notion that Europe had lost the AI race, pointing to the EU's world-class talent, technological expertise and industrial experience. She stressed the need for adequate financing to help European AI ideas grow and succeed.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas warned about AI's dark side, citing its use in Ukraine where AI-equipped drones are trained to find and kill people. The governments of Estonia and Finland called for EU-level arrangements for responding to serious AI incidents and developing advanced AI and governing it responsibly. Leaders continue to grapple with how to unlock AI's potential while protecting against its risks.
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