As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, the competition between the United States and China has escalated, each bolstered by substantial investments and technological advancementsRecently, French President Emmanuel Macron raised alarm bells, asserting that such competition could imperil the survival of civilizationsIn response, he pledged to significantly augment investments in Europe's AI sector.

During a summit focused on AI, he unveiled ambitious plans to mobilize funds totaling 200 billion euros (approximately 15.2 trillion yuan) aimed at rejuvenating the continent's AI industryThis initiative was echoed by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who underscored the urgency of the situation, proposing a joint investment strategy that combines private capital with government funding.

One standout player in the global AI arena is China’s DeepSeekIts efficient and low-cost operational model has captured significant attention, illustrating how innovation can create opportunities where previously thought limitedA representative from a French AI startup commented on how DeepSeek’s emergence has inspired optimism within Europe’s tech landscape, indicating that there is potential to catch up to the leaders.

Despite the influx of capital and plans for expansion, industry insiders expressed concerns over Europe’s current competitive stance in AIMany see the roots of this delay tracing back to the early days of the internetExcessive regulation, inadequate investment in AI, and a shortage of skilled talent are cited as critical challenges hindering progress.

The ambitious financial package outlined by von der Leyen includes significant contributions from private investors, with expectations that 1.5 billion euros will come from industry sourcesThis will be supplemented by an additional 500 million euros from the EU budget dedicated to developing "AI super factories," capable of training the most complex AI models.

These mega facilities are designed to become incubators for next-generation AI technologies, with plans for at least four super factories across Europe

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By December 2024, the EU plans to announce its first set of seven AI factories, which aim to bolster the region’s capability in this critical technology race.

As the host of the summit, France hopes to leverage this moment to establish a competitive foothold for itself and Europe in the AI landscapeJust one day before the event, Macron disclosed that the nation intends to invest 109 billion euros (around 82 trillion yuan) into its AI framework over the next several yearsHowever, he candidly admitted that Europe is not currently in the race, noting its significant disadvantage.

According to Macron, a major factor in determining AI leadership is computational powerHe emphasized that Europe’s share of the current global computing capacity is a mere 3 to 5%, and he aimed to elevate this figure to 20%. He likened this initiative to America’s ambitious “Gateway to the Stars” project, signaling the seriousness of the challenge ahead.

Macron believes that if France and Europe do not accelerate their AI development, they risk being left behind on the global stageHe continuously reiterated the need for “investment, investment, investment.” The push to invest heavily in AI reflects a broader struggle for technological supremacyAs one technology analyst pointedly noted, the EU's strategy is not just about catching up technologically, but about securing a significant share in global tech competition.

The rise of DeepSeek has served as a catalyst for a renewed interest in AI innovation across the globe, simultaneously providing a glimmer of hope for Europe’s struggling AI entrepreneursClément Delangue, CEO of AI development platform Hugging Face, remarked at the summit that DeepSeek exemplifies how all nations can be key players in the AI contest, marking a global acceleration in pursuit of technological advancement.

However, despite the influx of funding and renewed optimism, evidence of Europe's lag behind in the AI domain remains stark

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A recent report from the World Economic Forum identified only four out of fourteen critical technologies in which Europe competes effectively against the U.S. and ChinaFurthermore, the 2024 global AI power ranking released by Stanford University placed the United States, China, and the United Kingdom at the top, with France on the sixth rung.

To bridge the gap, Europe must attract more venture capital, yet its historically stringent regulations and the politicized landscape have dampened investors' enthusiasm for the AI sectorNotably, experts like Bill Wang from China Telecom have pointed out that Europe missed the boat during the internet's formative years, leading to its current struggles to catch up in AI.

Long known for its stringent regulations, the EU has famously implemented layers of oversight, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets ActThe upcoming AI Act is anticipated to be equally rigorous, prompting many startups to relocate to more lenient jurisdictionsMacron himself acknowledged that Europe has focused too heavily on regulating AI, saying, “We are regulating ourselves out of the market.”

Legal expert Wu Han highlighted the EU's comprehensive regulation approach that spans the entire lifecycle of AI technology, compared to America’s more flexible, less formal regulatory frameworkThe current shift in EU policy indicates a significant change in tone regarding AI governance, with industry analysts noting that AI is increasingly viewed as a pivotal engine for future economic growth.

The EU is progressively rolling out policy adjustments aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers, with the objective of stimulating the regional AI industry. "The EU is attempting to transform its role from a gatekeeper to a catalyst, harnessing AI technologies to drive a technological renaissance in Europe and reshape global AI governance," remarked analyst Zhang Hexun.

Moreover, the quantity and quality of talent within a nation substantially influence its AI advancement potential

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Consequently, EU member states are ramping up efforts to cultivate a skilled workforceFrance has prioritized AI talent development within its "France 2030" investment planGermany has also made strides with its Federal AI Strategy announced in 2018, focused on both academic and vocational training for AI professionalsIn 2022, the German Ministry of Education and Research allocated 24 million euros to support AI talent cultivation.

Companies like Mistral from France and Aleph Alpha from Germany are also rising stars in the global AI raceReported to be a beacon of hope for Europe’s competitiveness, Mistral was founded in 2023 by researchers from tech giants like Google DeepMind and MetaThe newly established startup aims to release a series of open-source AI models, asserting that its technology achieves efficiencies comparable to US counterparts, but with lower computational needs.

Similar to DeepSeek, Mistral offers a free, fully open-source foundational model named Le Chat, which quickly gained popularity, rocketing to the top of France’s free app charts in February 2025. Its CEO disclosed that the application has attracted "millions" of steady users, although this number still pales in comparison to the roughly 200 million active users of ChatGPT.

Through substantial investments and strategic positioning, the EU is endeavoring to redefine its role in the global AI landscapeWhile plans to create super factories dedicated to model training generate excitement, experts caution that the effectiveness of these measures hinges on efficiency, costs, and training periods in the long runUltimately, the race for AI supremacy boils down to a battle for technology and talent.

Currently, the global AI landscape exhibits a duality of competition and cooperationExperts from Tsinghua University emphasize that while the U.S., China, and Europe engage in a fierce contest regarding the development, marketing, and deployment of AI technologies, there is also an increasing recognition of the necessity for international collaboration on ethics and governance.

While von der Leyen disputes the notion that Europe has fallen behind in the AI race, stating, “The race for AI is far from over

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