THEArtificial intelligence It is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary technologies of our time, but in Europe the debate on its regulation continues, especially after the approval of the Ai Act. In this scenario, over 50 European companies and researchers – including EssilorLuxottica, Prada, Pirelli, Exor Group, Meta and Spotify – have submitted a Open letter to European Union legislators and regulators. The letter calls for urgent intervention to review current AI policies, to prevent Europe from falling behind and losing the “great benefits” of a technology capable of accelerating economic growth and scientific progress.
“Europe's competitiveness and innovation are already declining compared to other regions, and the risk of lose further ground in the AI era is real due to inconsistent regulations,” underline the signatories, who also include Publicis, Criteo, Engineering, Ericsson and well-known academics such as Nicolò Cesa-Bianchi (University of Milan) and Eugenio Valdano (Sorbonne/Inserm).
“We are a group of companies, researchers and institutions working to provide services to millions of Europeans. We want see Europe prosper also in the field of AI, but the continent is becoming less competitive compared to other regions of the world and risks being left further behind due to inconsistent regulatory decisions,” the letter reads.
The appeal asks “rapid, harmonized, coherent and clear” decisions that could allow the use of European data in training AI models, warning that without measures to this effect, innovation will develop elsewhere. Without the adoption of open and multimodal models, “AI development will take place elsewhere, depriving Europeans of the technological advances that benefit companies in the United States, China and India”.
Letter on AI: A Cry of Alarm for Europe
The letter emphasizes the risk of marginalization of Europe compared to other technological powers such as the United States, China and India, which are rapidly advancing in the development of generative and multimodal AI models.
One of the key points of the letter concerns, instead, the so-called multimodal models, capable of simultaneously handling text, images and audio, considered the next frontier of AI. The signatories state that, if theEU does not facilitate the use of data for these models, the their implementation will take place outside Europe, leaving the continent behind in one of the most promising technologies of the next decade.
“If companies and institutions want to invest tens of billions of euros to develop generative Artificial Intelligence for European citizens, they will need clear rules, consistently applied, that allow the use of European data. But in recent times, regulatory decisions have become fragmented and unpredictable, while interventions by European data protection authorities have created great uncertainty about the type of data that can be used to train AI models”.
Ai Act: Opportunity or Obstacle?
Al The AI Act is at the center of the debate, the pioneering regulation approved by the European Parliament which aims to regulate the use of artificial intelligence within the Union. While the AI Act is a step forward in setting global standards for AI management, it has raised concerns among businesses and developers who fear that regulatory restrictions could stifle innovation.
THEAI Act, divides AI systems by risk level, from unacceptable to minimal, imposing stricter limits for high-risk systems, such as generative ones. According to the signatories of the letter, however, fragmented rules and uncertainties about usable data could discourage investment in AI within the EU.
A double problem: fragmentation and regulatory uncertainty
One of the main problems highlighted in the letter is the growing regulatory fragmentation within the European Union, a problem already known in other technological fields. The signatories argue that the current regulatory framework has created “great uncertainty about the type of data that can be used to train AI models,” making it more difficult for companies and institutions to invest in new technologies.
AI requires vast amounts of data to function properly, but current EU regulations, including the GDPR, limit access to such data. This makes it difficult for European companies to develop highly competitive AI models on the international stage.
AI in Europe: There is a risk of being left behind
THEEurope stands at a crossroads: While other countries and regions are investing heavily in developing AI technologies, the EU risks being left behind. The letter points to the model adopted by the United States, China and India, which have promoted policies that are conducive to technological innovation, allowing wider access to data and offering incentives for the development of generative AI.
For example, the The United States has adopted a more permissive and flexible approach, promoting the development of AI models open-source which are freely accessible and easily modifiable, multiplying the opportunities for development and innovation. The China, instead, has made data collection and analysis a national priority, accelerating the development of advanced AI technologies in various sectors, from surveillance to industry.
In addition to losing competitiveness, the signatories fear that Europe could lose its technological sovereignty. Control over AI models developed elsewhere could jeopardize not only the ability to innovate, but also the security and autonomy of European data.
Il use of AI models developed outside Europe It means that European values and priorities – such as respect for privacy, inclusiveness and the protection of human rights – may not be fully integrated into new technologies. Furthermore, European data could end up in the hands of countries with less stringent security and privacy standards, putting the privacy of European citizens at risk.
What is being asked of the EU: clear and coherent rules
The core of the request contained in the open letter is the need to harmonized and clear rules that allow European companies to compete globally in AI development. European companies and researchers are calling for a review of the regulatory framework, suggesting that the EU offer a modern and flexible interpretation of the provisions of the GDPR and the AI Act, while maintaining fundamental European values.
According to the signatories, it is essential that Europe offers a regulatory coherence between its member states, to create a single market for AI, where companies can operate without having to deal with a fragmented bureaucracy. Only in this way, they argue, will it be possible to attract investment and stimulate growth in key sectors such as healthcare, mobility and industry.
A Global Vision: AI as a Technology of Common Interest
Another aspect highlighted is the need for global cooperation in AI governance. The United Nations, for example, has stressed that AI development cannot be left to markets or individual nations alone. The technology has cross-border implications that require a cooperative and global approach to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed equitably and that risks are adequately managed.
In the European context, this translates into the need to include even the smallest and least developed countries in innovation processes, so that they can benefit from the opportunities offered by AI without being excluded.
An uncertain future for Europe
The open letter is a clear and strong call for a change of direction in European policies on artificial intelligence. The EU is facing a crucial choice: it can choose to foster innovation, reviewing existing regulations to make them more flexible and coherent, or it risks lag behind other global technological powers.
To maintain competitiveness, it is a collective commitment is essential and a long-term vision that promotes economic growth and protects European values. future decisions will be crucial to define the role of the EU in the AI era.
