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(New York=Yonhap Infomax) Jin Woo Choi—Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), on the 24th (local time) called for the immediate removal of obstacles hindering the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe.
Speaking at the OECD-hosted AI Forum in Bratislava, Slovakia, Lagarde stated, "Given the pace of recent years, the AI era is likely to arrive much faster than European institutions and regulations can prepare for." She emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges.
Lagarde identified high energy costs, fragmented regulations, and the lack of an integrated capital market as key barriers to AI adoption in Europe.
"With the United States and China already ahead, Europe has missed the opportunity to lead in AI," Lagarde said, recalling that "the slow adoption during the last digital revolution came at a significant cost."
However, she added, "The story is not over. Europe can still become a strong strategic latecomer." Lagarde stressed that "Europe's goal is not to build the highest-performing models itself, but to apply AI quickly and intelligently across a wide range of sectors."
Lagarde warned that "if Europe's data space becomes dependent on external technology stacks and governance, strategic dependence will deepen." She called for diversification of core supply chains, such as chips and data centers, and maintaining at least a minimum level of domestic capability.
She further stated, "Europe must leverage the power of the single market to enforce interoperability and open standards," adding, "This is essential to avoid 'lock-in' to specific platforms."
jwchoi@yna.co.kr
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