Ursula von der Leyen warns of the risks of AI and calls on Europe to develop its own technological capabilities

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Wednesday, in a speech on the State of the European Union, that the development of artificial intelligence brings significant benefits but also “enormous risks.” She argued that Europe must harness AI to improve society, quality of life and productivity, while keeping the development of cutting-edge models under control.

Von der Leyen announced intensified cooperation with partners such as Canada and the United Kingdom to assess and verify models, provide early warnings and strengthen AI security. The European Commission will invite leading artificial intelligence laboratories to discussions on the responsible development of the technology.

The head of the EU executive stressed that the European Union needs its own capabilities and must massively expand its computing infrastructure. In healthcare, she argued that AI should provide doctors with additional tools, not replace them. Von der Leyen called for artificial intelligence that is efficient and responsible, consumes little energy and remains under human control.