The European Union is making a decisive move to catch up in the global race for artificial intelligence, pledging €1 billion to accelerate AI adoption across industry and research. According to EU estimates, only 13% of European companies actively used AI last year. The newly announced goal is ambitious: by 2030, the EU aims to see AI integrated into 75% of European businesses, from offices to factory floors.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU commissioner overseeing digital sovereignty, outlined the aim of making AI a true engine of productivity across sectors, no longer a novelty but a core technology. Use cases range from AI-assisted cancer diagnostics to autonomous vehicles. The goal is to replace or enhance human decision-making with machine precision.
A central part of the plan is the creation of AI gigafactories, supercomputing hubs capable of processing massive datasets quickly and efficiently, enabling breakthroughs in machine learning and advanced analytics. These facilities are expected to serve as the computational backbone for Europe’s AI infrastructure.
The EU also intends to roll out AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare, defense, and manufacturing. Complementing these efforts is a strong push for digital education to improve AI literacy across the workforce and avoid confusion between machinery-style tools and real human interaction.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the future of AI should be shaped in Europe, highlighting the bloc's commitment to building intelligent, accessible, and ethically guided AI systems.
Ultimately, the EU's vision is to ensure that by 2030, artificial intelligence is not only commonplace but also globally recognized as a uniquely European blend of innovation and regulatory stability.
