The European Commission has set out an AI Continent Action Plan in which it details how it will transform Europe’s “traditional industries” to use AI innovation.

The Commission said the EU can boost its AI capabilities by concentrating on five key pillars.
As part of the move, the Commission revealed plans to build a large-scale data and computing infrastructure with a network of AI factories.

It said that 13 of these factories already being deployed around Europe's “world-leading” supercomputers.

These sites will support EU AI start-ups, industry and researchers in developing AI models and applications.

To stimulate private sector investment in cloud capacity and data centres, the Commission also plans to introduce the Cloud and AI Development Act which will “at least triple” the EU's data centre capacity in the next five to seven years.

Additionally, the EU plans to increase access to large and high-quality data through the creation of data labs. The Commission said this would together high-quality data from different sources in AI factories. To support this, Commission also intends to create a comprehensive data union strategy to support this pillar.

According to data from the Commission, despite the wide-ranging potential of AI technology, only 13.5 per cent of companies in the EU have adopted it.

As part of the plans, the Commission will develop tailored AI solutions to boost the industrial use of AI and ensure it is adopted in public and private sectors. As well as this, there will be a focus on strengthening AI skills and simplifying regulation around the technology.

Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy at the Commission, said that AI is at the heart of making Europe more competitive, adding that the EU needs to act to ensure that it stays ahead in the global AI race.

“This Action Plan outlines key areas where efforts need to intensify to make Europe a leading AI Continent,” she added. “We are working towards a future where tech innovation drives industry and public services forward, bringing concrete benefits to our citizens and businesses through trustworthy AI.

“This means a stronger economy, breakthroughs in healthcare, new jobs, increased productivity, better transport and education, stronger protection against cyber threats, and support in tackling climate change.”

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