What were your thoughts when you heard about the planned US investment?
It’s highly ambitious; it’s amazing that it’s happening at this scale and so quickly. But I’m not surprised.
Why not?
The US has built up a substantial lead in AI and is well aware of it. They’re not just looking to maintain their lead, but to expand it further. There have been several key announcements recently. First, there will be export restrictions on advanced AI hardware like the NVIDIA chip, which we use in Germany to build AI data centers, for example in Jülich. We are also using this chip in my department. Then came the Stargate It all’adds up to a very coherent strategy.
What must the European response look like?
Along with many of my colleagues, I’ve repeatedly emphasized that Europe’s AI strategy urgently needs a complete overhaul. We need to think far more ambitiously than we have so far. This means dramatically increasing funding - both from public sources and industry.
CAIRNE - formerly CLAIRE - an international non-profit association of the European AI community, has long envisioned a CERN for AI in Europe. That would be the perfect response to the US announcements. We’d be matching their level of ambition, making headlines, and creating a critical mass of AI talent and resources. We aim to develop safe, reliable, and sustainable AI in Europe - that’s the mission we’ve embraced here at the AI Center in Aachen. Establishing a CERN for AI in Europe would be a massive step in the right direction.
Were we on the right track in Europe before the Stargate announcement?
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, did give a notable speech about tackling AI development more decisively. But that’s precisely what we’ve been lacking: the ambition, courage, and determination to make a big leap. Once again, the Americans have demonstrated how it’s done, and that’s truly impressive. We need to take this as a lesson - and act quickly.
In the future, AI will likely determine the development of companies and entire industries. Is Europe at risk of economic obsolescence?
Absolutely. This is exactly what my colleagues and I have been warning about for years. AI is the key to future competitiveness. From the US perspective, it’s a deeply strategic investment. We in Europe cannot rest on our laurels. Our competitiveness depends entirely on how we keep pace in AI - especially given our demographic challenges. AI is essential to compensate for labor and skills shortages and maintain our standard of living. We somehow need to accomplish the same amount of work with fewer and fewer people.
Responsible AI use is crucial for you. President Trump has already rolled back AI regulations, so how concerned are you?
Very concerned. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has again made it clear that their goal, fueled by Stargate, is ultimately to replace human intelligence. I find this deeply troubling. This isn’t the type of AI we need, nor does it align with European principles. The AI systems that American companies are aggressively developing are designed to completely replace human intelligence and labor. It’s far more sensible and safer to develop AI that meaningfully complements human capabilities rather than replaces them.
Furthermore, AI isn’t a value-neutral technology. By adopting AI developed elsewhere, we also import its underlying values. This poses a challenge because here in Europe - in our Aachen research community, in Germany, and across the continent - we have very different priorities around security, reliability, and sustainability compared to companies like Microsoft or OpenAI.
Are we at a critical juncture right now?
We are at a crossroads like never before. As Europeans, we must decide now: do we want to keep up? If so, we need to invest massively - and have a solid plan to ensure these investments deliver the desired results. Or are we content to continue as we have been, risking falling behind in every domain?
