As part of a package of initiatives to help European startups and SMEs build reliable artificial intelligence (AI) that complies with EU regulations, the European Commission has suggested the establishment of an AI factory, an AI Office, and other AI-related projects.According to a statement posted on the Commission’s blog, European companies would have easier access to specialized AI supercomputers, which will encourage the creation of general-purpose AI models.Accelerating the deployment of AI technology is the goal of this program.
This follows the December 2023 agreement on the EU AI Act, the first worldwide comprehensive law regulating the use of potent AI models, such Google’s Bard and Microsoft-backed ChatGPT.The purpose of the legislation is to make it easier for the EU to develop, implement, and adopt trustworthy AI.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed plans to launch a new project in September 2023 to allow forward-thinking European AI firms access to Europe’s supercomputers for the purpose of training their reliable AI models.A reward that provides AI firms with financial support and access to supercomputing facilities is the Large AI Grand Challenge, which the Commission also introduced in November 2023.The Commission stated that AI entrepreneurs and researchers will benefit from the AI Factories, or one-stop shops, which will help with algorithm development, large-scale model testing and validation, and guaranteeing access to specialized AI supercomputers.
The Commission has decided to open an AI Office as part of its efforts to support AI entrepreneurs and innovation.This office will oversee the enactment and enforcement of the upcoming AI Act in addition to ensuring the development and coordination of AI policy at the European level.
Among the initiatives that have been introduced is an EU AI Start-Up and Innovation Communication initiative that aims to raise an additional €4 billion in total investment between public and private funds until 2027.The Alliance for Language Technologies (ALT) was created by the Commission in cooperation with multiple member states to address the lack of European language data for AI training. It also supports the creation of large language models while maintaining linguistic diversity.
Utilizing cutting-edge AI technologies, the second EDIC, called “CitiVERSE,” will create and enhance local digital twins for smart communities.This effort supports cities in simulating and optimizing operations, including traffic management and trash management.