Artificial intelligence - the EU wants to open up primarily to the USA and China in the economy

EU plans AI revolution: Many open questions October 17, 2026 Dancers swirl over a circular stage in the center of a dark hall. The audience of political decision-makers and tech managers watches spellbound. The International AI Summit in Dublin this week was meant to be more than just another bureaucrats' conference—it was supposed to send a spectacular signal: Europe is ready for its AI revolution. Among the more than 1500 expected guests were, among others, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, and Microsoft President Brad Smith. High-ranking representatives of the European Union and the Irish government were also present. The event was a central part of the Irish EU Presidency. However, the absence of critical voices that could have balanced the prevailing AI enthusiasm provoked accusations. The conference was a one-sided advertisement for the technology industry. "The summit was almost like a political advertisement broadcast about AI," said Barry O'Sullivan, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at University College Cork, to the DW. AI to strengthen Europe's competitiveness The overarching theme was the question of how AI can be used to revitalize Europe's weakening economy, promote innovation, and catch up with the USA and China. In discussions with numerous leaders, the potential benefits were clearly highlighted: early cancer detection, better warnings about extreme weather events, and optimizing electricity distribution for energy saving. However, for these promises to become reliable services, extensive testing and validation are still required. Ireland has a great interest in these topics. The country hosts the European offices of several of the world's largest technology companies and is heavily dependent on the tax payments of these corporations. In 2025, foreign multinational companies paid €28.8 billion in corporate tax, contributing 87 percent of all Irish revenue. This gives Dublin a clear interest in shaping European rules while not deterring investors. However, Europe's financial clout remains significantly behind that of the USA: According to the Stanford University AI Index, private AI investments in the USA amounted to 286 billion US dollars in 2025 (about 253 billion euros), compared to only 21 billion US dollars (18.6 billion euros) in Europe. But must Europe compete under the same conditions? O'Sullivan believes that Europe should focus on its own strengths, including industrial robotics and specialized applications: "We have a very special AI opportunity in Europe, and we should focus on that." The use of foreign AI models could help European companies move faster. However, it also makes them dependent on providers outside Europe, who can change prices, restrict access, or decide which functions are made available. EU Rules Under Pressure The EU representatives at the summit quickly emphasized that regulations have been created to harness the benefits of AI while limiting its risks. Michael McGrath, the Irish EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, spoke of a balance between the potential of AI and the "appropriate guardrails" necessary to build trust. The EU's AI Act prohibits certain practices and imposes stricter requirements on particularly sensitive areas. The Omnibus amendments, which came into effect in July 2026, aim to simplify compliance with regulations but have also delayed some protective measures. Rules for areas such as employment and education will now apply from December 2027, while regulations for AI in regulated products will apply from August 2028. The European Commission argues that companies need time to adapt to new standards and guidelines. Critics, however, believe that protective measures are being postponed under the pressure of international competition. For O'Sullivan, regulation and innovation are not mutually exclusive. "The idea that you cannot have both regulation and innovation at the same time is simply nonsense," he said, referring to the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries. Demonstrations in front of the venue The assurances from politicians and technology companies sound unconvincing to the demonstrators in front of the venue. Paul Murphy, an Irish Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party People Before Profit, argues that European regulations are stricter than those in the USA, but the overall benchmark remains low. In the recent amendments, he sees a step towards deregulation. "The big tech corporations set the pace, and everyone else is expected to follow along," he told the DW. Instead, he calls for a societal debate involving civil society, trade unions, and politicians about how technology should develop and how limited resources like water and electricity should be used. Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin, a trade union representative and one of the few critical voices on the conference stage, asked who would ultimately benefit from higher productivity. Optimization, she said, could increase pressure on employees. Murphy also fears increasing pressure to work faster with less autonomy and greater surveillance. Whether the time saved by AI in emails can actually be used for reflection or merely lead to more tasks depends on the decisions of employers and the bargaining power of employees. O'Sullivan, on the other hand, holds the view that AI, by taking over monotonous tasks, gives employees "more time to reflect and for creativity in their work." High Environmental Costs In Ireland, the question of resources is particularly pressing. In 2025, data centers consumed 23 percent of the country's measured electricity. This includes cloud services and other digital offerings, not just AI applications. Murphy argues that further expansion will increase electricity costs for households and endanger climate goals. Renewable energies could help meet the growing demand. However, additional clean energy must simultaneously replace fossil fuels while housing construction and other industries also require grid capacity. "The sustainability of AI is an enormous problem," O'Sullivan agreed, calling on the industry to reduce its entire energy consumption. The Future of AI Industry representatives admitted that clear boundaries are necessary. The lead scientist at Alphabet, Hassabis, described the recent AI hacking incidents as "first warning shots" and called for international oversight. Microsoft President Smith stated: "We need laws. We need regulation." Unanimously, both on and off stage, there was an agreement: it has been shown how difficult it can be to keep increasingly autonomous systems under control. The assurances of the developers alone cannot guarantee safety. But regulation also cannot rule out every risk. For O'Sullivan and Murphy, it remains indispensable. Europe wants to actively shape the development of AI without giving up on the promised benefits. This balancing act is difficult and requires decisions about investments, resources, and the distribution of profits. Even a spectacular opening performance cannot navigate these questions. An adaptation from English by Sabine Faber.