Synopsis
The European Commission has launched the AI Continent Action Plan to streamline AI regulations and enhance infrastructure, ensuring the EU's competitiveness in the global AI market. The initiative focuses on reducing regulatory burdens while developing extensive AI capabilities across Europe.Key Takeaways
- AI Continent Action Plan aims to simplify regulations.
- Focus on reducing regulatory burdens.
- EU plans to develop large-scale AI data infrastructure.
- Support for AI Gigafactories with 100,000 AI chips.
- AI Factories to aid developers in training AI models.
Brussels, April 10 (NationPress) The European Commission has introduced the AI Continent Action Plan, designed to simplify regulations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and speed up the establishment of AI infrastructure. This initiative aims to keep the European Union (EU) competitive in the global AI landscape.
On Wednesday, Henna Virkkunen, the executive vice-president responsible for technology sovereignty, security, and democracy within the Commission, stated that the plan emphasizes minimizing regulatory hurdles and ensuring the straightforward and innovation-friendly execution of the AI Act.
The European Union has consistently positioned its digital regulatory framework as a benchmark for global governance. However, its stringent oversight, especially regarding AI, has faced backlash from prominent tech companies, who contend that overregulation could stifle innovation and impede industrial advancement.
The plan outlines that the EU will concentrate on developing extensive AI data and computing infrastructure. Key initiatives include enhancing access to premium data, advancing algorithmic development, fostering AI adoption in vital sectors, and improving education and training in AI-related skills.
The Commission's announcement highlighted that 13 AI factories have already been set up across Europe, with plans to facilitate the construction of AI Gigafactories, large-scale facilities equipped with about 100,000 AI chips and possessing four times the capacity of current AI factories.
Last year, the EU initiated a call for establishing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Factories to propel the advancement of AI technology.
AI Factories will be constructed around the network of European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) supercomputers, accessible to various European users, including startups, industries, and researchers, as stated by the European Commission.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EC, mentioned that AI Factories will play a crucial role in securing the EU's leadership in this transformative technology.
AI Factories will assist AI developers in training their extensive generative AI models through the utilization of EuroHPC supercomputers, offering access to data, computing, and storage services.
