Europe is ready for its “wow moment” in AI – and it’s building the infrastructure, the ecosystems, and the ambition to prove it. That’s the bold message Roberto Viola, Director General of DG Connect at the European Commission, shares in his DLD26 presentation.
Viola challenges the idea that Europe is lagging behind. “When it comes to the fundamentals, we have the best talents, we have the best ingenuity, and also the best resources to do things”, he says.
One example is “Destination Earth”, an ambitious effort to build a digital twin of the planet that utilizes powerful AI algorithms and supercomputers to predict extreme weather events with remarkable accuracy.
Europe is banking on the concept of “AI Factories” to bring private and public money together, for the benefit of all, Viola explains. Almost 20 AI Factories are planned across Europe, and combined, they will form “the biggest computing grid, AI public computing grid, of the world”, Viola says.
The EU’s AI strategy also includes sector-specific flagship projects. “Advanced screening centers” will pair doctors with AI to improve cancer detection, while “ambition cities” like Turin in Italy have agreed to embrace autonomous driving.
