OpenAI writes economic blueprint for the EU

It is urgent and important for the EU to act, writes OpenAI in a draft in which the AI company from the USA makes a whole series of demands of the European Union. Much of this is well known, such as the benefits that AI should bring to society and the economy. However, some of it is already being implemented, such as institutions and initiatives to promote and disseminate AI.

OpenAI writes: “We believe that the EU needs to act more boldly and decisively to maximize the opportunities of AI while ensuring that it is used responsibly to mitigate potential negative impacts.” Four principles are crucial to the EU's success. Chips, data, energy, and talent are one point. The regulations should be streamlined and coordinated. AI should be introduced as widely as possible. And finally, European values should be reflected. The threat of Chinese influence is a recurring theme in the published paper.

Laws should be simplified

OpenAI supports the AI Act, but at the same time hopes for a “Digital Simplification Package”, meaning a simplification of AI rules, as numerous laws in the EU concern AI. OpenAI counts 100 laws and 270 regulators from 27 member states. In fact, a rethink of the AI Regulation and the General Data Protection Regulation is probably already discussed in the EU.

It is clear that the EU should spend more money according to OpenAI. “Specifically, Europe must be able to produce and use world-class computing power, abundant clean energy, large and diverse data sets and a skilled workforce.” In the past, Europe's economic strength was based on infrastructure such as highways, factories, and universities; “the future of AI will be about supercomputers, fiber optic networks, power grids and research centers.” However, it is no secret that numerous employees at AI companies in the USA come from Germany, France, and China. Basic research in the EU has a good reputation.

Even more money for infrastructure

OpenAI describes initiatives such as the 200 billion euros for AI infrastructure announced at the AI Summit in Paris as a step in the right direction. The EU wants to triple the existing capacity of data centers over the next five to seven years. So-called AI gigafactories are planned that are open to all users, which the EU Commission sees as a major difference to the large-scale projects in other countries around the world, such as the USA or China. Project Stargate in the USA, for example, will probably only benefit OpenAI.

There are also already numerous institutions and initiatives, such as Mission KI in Germany, under whose umbrella so-called data rooms are being set up, and the AI Grid, a network that aims to bring together AI scientists, young talent and companies. The topic of data is therefore not exclusively addressed by OpenAI in the paper.

OpenAI brings itself into play as a reliable partner. The paper begins with a list of several collaborations with institutes, universities, and companies from Europe, such as the Max Planck Institute in Munich and the Be-my-Eyes visual impairment charity from Denmark. It is also fitting that OpenAI is calling for 100 million Europeans to be trained in AI skills by 2030 and that there should be 10,000 AI skills ambassadors.

OpenAI has published a similar blueprint for the USA. In it, the company compares AI with the automotive industry and speaks of a reindustrialization.

(emw)