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The EU’s intention is to acquire “the best place in the world for trustworthy AI”, as the Commission has noted recently. Thus, the so-called AI factories will bring together vital ingredients for successful AI’s industry: i.e. computing power, data and talented researchers. The “factories” will assist the AI developers “train their large generative AI models” by using the EU-wide supercomputers to provide access to data, computing and storage services. The “factories” will be assembled into the continental AI-networks providing fruitful collaboration.
Background
Since 2020, the Commission has been facilitating and enhancing EU-wide cooperation on AI system in order to boost its competitiveness and ensure trust in digital transition based on EU values. The Commission’s White Paper on AI, published in 2020, set out a clear vision for AI in Europe; then, in April 2021, the Commission proposed the EU AI Act and a new EU-wide coordinated plan to guarantee the safety and fundamental rights of people and businesses, while strengthening investment and innovation among the EU member states. The AI Act was adopted in December 2023 as the world’s first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence.
More in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_383
Note: additional info in the Commission’s weblinks at: = EU AI Start-Up and Innovation Communication; = Amendment to Regulation establishing the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking; = European Artificial Intelligence Act; = Commission Decision establishing the European Artificial Intelligence Office; = AI Pact; = The European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC); and = Staff Working Document on Common European Data Spaces.
Creating AI factories: the concept
The “AI factories” will bring together most vital ingredients in the optimal AI’s functioning, i.e. computing power, data, algorithms and talent in order to serve as a one-stop shop for Europe’s AI start-ups, enabling them to develop the most advanced AI models and industrial applications. The new idea to establish the continental “AI factories” has been highlighted in the Commission’s AI innovation package presented in January 2024. The main components of the package include”
= Financial support through Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe program dedicated to generative AI, which will generate additionally €4 billion until 2027 in public/private investment.
More on the Digital Europe program in: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/artificial-intelligence-digital-programme
= Strengthening the EU’s generative AI talent pool through education, training, skilling and reskilling activities;
= Further encouragement of public and private investments in AI start-ups and scale-ups through venture capital or equity support (e.g. by new EIC accelerator program and InvestEU);
More on EIC Accelerator’s funding program under Horizon Europe is supporting start-ups and SMEs in: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-accelerator_en
= Acceleration of the development and deployment of Common European Data Spaces, made available to the AI community, for whom data is a key resource to train and improve their models. Besides, a new Staff Working Document on common European data spaces has also been published presently;
On Common EU Data Spaces in: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/data-spaces
= The ‘GenAI4EU’ initiative, which aims to support the development of novel use cases and emerging applications in Europe’s 14 industrial ecosystems, as well as the public sector. Application areas include robotics, health, biotech, manufacturing, mobility, climate and virtual worlds;
On GenAI4EU in: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/ai-office#ecl-inpage-genai4eu
= Large AI Grand Challenge: the winners were announced in June 2024 with four innovative AI start-ups from EU states (Belgium, France, Portugal and Latvia) to share the prize of €1 million and 8 million computational hours (on two of the world-leading EuroHPC JU supercomputers, Lumi and Leonardo), to advance Europe’s leadership in AI development.
More in: https://eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/winners-announced-large-ai-grand-challenge-2024-06-26_en
The Commission will also set up a European AI Research Council where Europe can pool resources and explore the untapped potential of data to support AI and other technologies, including the network of European High-Performance Computing system, EuroHPC.
Citations
= “AI factories will bring together all main ingredients that Europe needs to become a global AI powerhouse: very high computing power, large amounts of data, and a diversified pool of talents. By tapping into the extraordinary potential of our homegrown supercomputers, the factories will allow European SMEs, scientists and startups to develop as AI innovators, and set the pace for EU’s leadership in this domain.”
By Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for European Digital Age
= “With the launch of AI factories, we are leveraging one of Europe’s biggest assets: our world-class supercomputers. AI factories will serve as a one-stop shop for Europe’s AI start-ups, helping them develop the most advanced AI models and industrial applications. This will make Europe the best place in the world for trustworthy AI.”
By Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_24_4621