Can the EU Catch Up with China in AI Adoption?
303Google’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, recently sounded a warning to the European Union: the continent’s slow adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is putting its future prosperity and security at risk. Walker, who spoke at the Competitive Europe Summit in Brussels, emphasized that AI is no longer just a tool, but a driving force that will reshape nearly every aspect of modern life.
Walker pointed out that while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged the importance of getting AI right, the EU’s adoption rate lags behind China’s. According to estimates, up to 83% of Chinese companies are already using generative AI, compared to just 14% in Europe.
Regulatory Hurdles
Walker attributed the EU’s slow pace to a regulatory environment that is increasingly difficult for businesses to navigate. Since 2019, over one hundred new EU regulations have targeted the digital economy, leading to concerns that more than 60% of Europe’s businesses now say regulation is their biggest obstacle to investment in the EU.
A recent Danish government study estimated that new regulations could impose an additional €124 billion in annual costs on businesses and public administration in Europe. Walker also highlighted the slow progress on implementing Mario Draghi’s recommendations on EU competitiveness, with only 11.2% of his ideas having been adopted a year on.
A Proposal for Change
Walker proposed a direct, three-part strategy for the EU to reclaim its AI footing: laying a foundation of smart policy, building out adoption through workforce skilling, and scaling up to support widespread innovation. The foundational step requires a simplification of the AI regulatory landscape to create a framework supportive of innovation like China, but while ensuring regulation that is focused, aligned, and balanced.
Walker argued that regulating in ways that support AI innovation means focusing on the real-world effects of AI, rather than implementing sweeping rules that could stifle beneficial applications. He urged regulators to “oversee outputs, not inputs—to manage risks and consequences, not micromanage science.”
A Call to Action
The stakes are high, Walker emphasized, but with a smarter regulatory approach, the EU can reclaim its AI footing and drive innovation. By simplifying the regulatory landscape, building out workforce skills, and scaling up support for widespread innovation, the EU can unlock the full potential of AI and secure its future prosperity and security.
As the world hurtles towards an increasingly complex and interconnected future, one thing is clear: the EU must take action to ensure it remains a leader in AI adoption. With Walker’s proposal as a starting point, the question now is: can the EU catch up with China in AI adoption?
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