EU launches AI investment programme worth over $200 billion

The EU has committed to mobilising 200 billion euros ($206.15 billion) for artificial intelligence investments, aiming to close the gap with the US and China in developing the most advanced models. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the EU's goal to enhance its competitive edge in AI against both nations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The initiative, called InvestAI, will feature a new 20 billion-euro ($21 billion) fund dedicated to AI gigafactories—high-tech facilities that utilize powerful chips to train the most sophisticated AI systems.

“We want Europe to be one of the leading AI continents, and this means embracing a life where AI is everywhere,” von der Leyen said at the AI Action Summit in Paris.

The announcement highlights the EU's determination to establish itself as a significant player in the AI competition. The bloc has been trailing behind the US and China ever since the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022 sparked a surge in AI investment. The EU's commitment follows a month after the US unveiled Stargate, an AI joint venture aimed at building data centers for OpenAI. Initial equity funders for Stargate include OpenAI, SoftBank Group, Oracle, and MGX, with Arm, Microsoft, and Nvidia as technology partners.

The project begins with a $100 billion commitment, with plans to invest up to $500 billion over the next four years. At the same time, China is making significant advances, with DeepSeek, a Chinese company, developing AI models that nearly rival American counterparts, despite using less advanced chips. This raises concerns about the necessity of spending vast amounts on cutting-edge technology from companies like Nvidia.

“Too often I hear that the EU is late to the race,” von der Leyen said, insisting it was “far from being over.” The EU's initial funding for InvestAI will be sourced from existing programs, with member states also able to contribute. InvestAI will feature a multi-tiered fund, offering different risk and return profiles. The EU plans to build gigafactories dedicated to training the largest and most complex AI models. 

These facilities will be equipped with around 100,000 next-generation AI chips, roughly four times the amount being used in current AI factories. In December, the EU selected several consortia to set up seven AI factories, with plans to announce another five soon. Ursula von der Leyen stated that the InvestAI fund will finance these gigafactories through a combination of grants and equity.

By Naila Huseynova