Europe launches new AI initiative to begin catch-up mission

This month has seen the launch of the European Commission's AI4EU project, an initiative to create an AI-on-demand platform for Europe and challenge for leadership in this blossoming segment. Having been agreed during December, the AI4EU project already has 79 partners in 21 countries across the bloc, firstly focusing on developing eight industry-driven AI pilots which will demonstrate the value of the AI-on-demand platform as a technological innovation tool. Led by Thales, the group will receive €20 million in funding to begin with. "The European Commission has published its coordinated plan on artificial intelligence, as well as new guidelines on how to deal with the ethical issues relating to AI," said Roberto Viola, the Director General of DG Connect at the European Commission, in a recent blog post. "Both put humans firmly at the centre of this key technology that has the potential to revolutionise all our lives."