EU to build AI gigafactories in €20bn push to catch up with US and China
GuardianAPR 10
EC Unveils €20 Billion Plan for 13 AI Factories
Above: Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Maria Virkkunen in the Berlaymont, the EU Commission's headquarters on April 9, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Image copyright: Thierry Monasse/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Europe narrative
The AI Continent Action Plan represents a bold and necessary step to ensure Europe's technological sovereignty and competitiveness in the global AI race, with concrete measures to boost infrastructure, skills, and innovation while maintaining European values and democratic principles.
Narrative B
Despite good intentions, the EU's AI plan's broad scope lacks adequate resources, with only 10% of an announced €200 billion being new funding. Meanwhile, a newfound push for regulatory simplification could potentially undermine consumer protections and create uncertainty around the AI Act's enforcement.