EU announces initiative to fast-track supercomputer access for AI startups

cointelegraph.com:

European Union president Ursula von der Leyen announced a new initiative to give artificial intelligence (AI) startups expedited access to European supercomputers.

The announcement came during the president’s 2023 E.U. State of the Union address on Sep. 13.

We have to ensure AI develops in a human-centric, transparent and responsible way.

I believe , together with partners, should lead the way on a new global framework for AI, built on three pillars:

guardrails, governance and guiding innovation.#SOTEU pic.twitter.com/Nz6tSpoZ9P

In introducing the topic of AI, president von der Leyen invoked an open letter sent by members of the global AI community calling for increased regulatory scrutiny of the potential for “extinction from AI.”

Per von der Leyen’s speech:

The president called for the assemblage of a new guiding a “new global framework for AI, built on three pillars: guardrails, governance and guiding innovation.”

In describing the necessary guardrails, the president invoked the E.U.’s “AI Act,” calling it “a blueprint for the whole world. For the “governance” pillar, von der Leyen beseeched the global community to form a governance council similar to the International Panel on Climate Change.

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Lastly, in support of the tenant of “guiding innovation,” president von der Leyen announced an E.U.-wide initiative to accelerate access to Europe’s supercomputers for artificial intelligence startups who wish to train models and conduct research.

“Europe has now become a leader in supercomputing – with 3 of the 5 most powerful supercomputers in the world,” the president said, adding “We need to capitalise on this.”

President von der Leyen also lauded U.S. technology