The United States’ dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) poses a significant challenge to Europe’s digital sovereignty, according to a new report from France’s Parliamentary Office for Scientific and Technological Assessment (OPECST). French lawmakers warn that the European Union’s approach to regulating AI is insufficient to match the technological strides made by the US and China.
At a press conference presenting the findings, Socialist Party Senator Corinne Narassiguin, one of the report’s three authors, stated, “The challenge is one of digital sovereignty, to avoid becoming a mere digital colony.” She emphasized the need for powerful French and European players in the AI sector to counterbalance American and Chinese dominance.
Europe lagging in AI value chain and expertise
The report highlights several vulnerabilities in Europe’s AI ecosystem, including its absence in critical segments of the supply chain such as the manufacturing of semiconductors and graphics processing units. It also points to a significant brain drain, with top European talent being lured to US companies. While the French AI company Mistral represents a notable exception, the report concludes that the US remains the “hegemonic power of artificial intelligence.”
Adding to Europe’s challenges, two-thirds of computer chips used in the US originate in Taiwan, underscoring the interdependence of global AI supply chains and the difficulty for any nation or region to achieve true autonomy in the sector.
Calls for unified international AI governance
The report comes ahead of France’s AI Action Summit, scheduled for February 2025. Lawmakers have called for the unification of global AI governance efforts under the United Nations. “The importance and specificity of AI call for the creation of a new specialised institution within the UN system,” the report proposes, with responsibilities spanning international AI regulation and efforts to bridge the global digital divide.
At the European level, the report advocates launching a collaborative AI project involving France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain. This initiative, while considered since 2017, has yet to be realized.
Balancing innovation with public trust
Despite its critique of Europe’s current position, the report notes the EU’s regulatory framework could instill greater public confidence in AI systems compared to those developed under less stringent oversight. Recommendations from the French parliamentary office will be presented to the French government as it prepares for the summit, which aims to chart a path toward an AI ecosystem that serves the public interest.
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