FT: Brussels pursues European alternative to US AI models

Artificial intelligence has become a strategic geopolitical asset, and Europe needs to accelerate the development of its own AI capabilities to reduce reliance on foreign providers, the EU’s technology chief Henna Virkkunen has warned.

In an interview with the Financial Times, she said Brussels was concerned about becoming dependent on third countries for technologies that are increasingly critical to economic and national security, Caliber.Az reports.

She cautioned that governments capable of restricting access to advanced AI models could use that leverage to advance their own strategic interests.

The issue came into sharp focus in June when the United States imposed export controls on Anthropic's most advanced AI models over security concerns. Although the restrictions were later lifted following criticism from foreign governments and the technology industry, the episode renewed concerns in Europe that access to key technologies could be suspended through so-called "kill switches."

Those controlling critical technologies were "not only ruling the economy" but also possessed "a big strategic asset" in geopolitical competition, Virkkunen said.

Referring to the temporary restrictions on Anthropic's models, she added: "The Anthropic cut-off very clearly tells us how important it is now in our cyber security environment to be prepared for that kind of reality."

"We know that there will be more of that kind of very capable AI models coming to the markets in the coming months and years. So we have to be very well prepared for that."

Virkkunen compared the situation to previous US export restrictions on advanced semiconductor chips, which resulted in differing levels of access among EU member states.

AI capabilities ‘‘are really strategic assets nowadays and that’s why it’s so important for us to build our own technological sovereignty”, she said.

Last month, the European Commission unveiled a technology sovereignty package aimed at reducing Europe's dependence on US technology by supporting domestic alternatives in sectors including semiconductors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The strategy includes measures to accelerate the construction of European data centres and promote homegrown AI and cloud providers such as Mistral, Scaleway and OVHcloud.

"It's so important also that Europe is building up our own capacities and that we are not dependent on third countries for these very critical technologies," Virkkunen stressed.

To support those efforts, the EU and the European Investment Bank plan to establish a new investment mechanism dedicated to financing strategic European technology companies.

At the same time, Brussels is continuing discussions with Washington to secure long-term access to the world's most advanced AI models.

According to Virkkunen, EU leaders, along with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, raised the possibility of creating a "trusted partner" framework during June's G7 summit in talks with US President Donald Trump. The proposal is intended to help ensure continued European access to cutting-edge AI systems capable of identifying critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

"We continue to work internationally on that [proposal]," she said.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov