The European Commission has put forth a proposal for a set of measures designed to support European startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) in line with European Union (EU) values and regulations. Among the initiatives is the establishment of AI factories, AI offices, and other measures to aid the development of AI technology. This move aims to simplify access to dedicated AI supercomputers for European startups, facilitating the creation of general AI models and accelerating the adoption of AI technology.
The proposal follows the EU's December 2023 agreement on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which is considered the first comprehensive global law addressing powerful AI models and their usage. This legislation, focused on models like Microsoft-backed ChatGPT and Google's Bard, seeks to promote the development, deployment, and adoption of reliable AI within the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had previously announced the intention to provide innovative AI startups in Europe with European supercomputers to train trustworthy AI models during her "State of the Union" speech in September 2023.
The AI Factory, also known as a one-stop shop, is part of the proposed initiatives. It is designed to assist AI startups and researchers in algorithm creation, testing, and validation of large-scale AI models, providing them access to dedicated AI supercomputers. Additionally, an Artificial Intelligence Office will be established within the Commission to oversee the development and coordination of AI policy at the European level, ensuring the implementation and enforcement of the upcoming AI Bill.
As part of the ongoing efforts to support AI startups and innovation, the EU has launched the Artificial Intelligence Startup and Innovation Exchange Program. This program combines public and private funding, aiming for an additional investment of approximately €4 billion by 2027. Furthermore, the Commission is collaborating with several Member States to establish two European Digital Infrastructure Consortiums (EDICs): the Alliance for Language Technologies (ALT), addressing the shortage of European language data for AI training, and "CitiVERSE," which leverages advanced AI tools to develop and enhance local digital twins of smart communities, aiding in simulating and optimizing various processes in cities.
