Exactly a year ago, the European Commission launched its action plan for Europe to become an AI continent, based around five key pillars:
- Computing infrastructure
- Data
- Skills
- AI Adoption
- Simplifying AI rules
Over the past twelve months, the Commission has started making its vision for European AI become reality.
For example, among other things, it has begun expanding its computing capacity with 19 AI Factories now operational, alongside 13 AI Factory antennas. Furthermore, a call for expression of interest on AI Gigafactories was met with 76 responses across 60 sites in 16 different Member States.
Meanwhile, in November, the Commission delivered its Data Union Strategy, focusing on unlocking the potential of data for AI development in Europe.
On skills, the EU has begun exploring ways of attracting talent in AI, including through the European Legal Gateway Office launched in February during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
The Apply AI Strategy, published in October last year, is already showing results, with dozens of calls, together worth up to €1 billion opened across strategic sectors, helping our businesses adopt AI and build their competitiveness.
Finally, in November, the Commission proposed its AI Omnibus as a way of simplifying rules and providing legal certainty to businesses. It also launched an AI Act Service Desk to assist businesses and organisations in implementing the AI Act.
New reports supporting AI policy and adoption
The Commission is building on its achievements so far with the publication of a report on AI adoption in public administration and a Science for Policy brief on a decade of AI policies in the EU.
The report on advancing AI adoption in EU public administration is aligned with the fourth pillar of the AI Continent Action Plan and builds on the Apply AI Strategy. It presents an AI adoption framework structured around three core activities:
- Anchoring AI adoption in EU policies, regulations and principles
- Adapting the capabilities of public administrations
- Applying AI in high-impact domains
The Science for Policy brief, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, outlines the path to trust and excellence in the European Approach to AI Policymaking.
Since 2018, in close collaboration with other EU institutions and Member States, the European Commission has been shaping the European approach to AI policy, framing and supporting the development, deployment and use of AI by public and private organisations and citizens.
Rather than relying on a single policy instrument, the EU has progressively constructed a comprehensive approach to foster innovation and competitiveness while safeguarding fundamental rights, market integrity and trust. This Science for Policy brief provides an interpretative analysis of this process with evidence-based input.