The EU’s special envoy for industrial AI has called on top EU officials to emphasize accelerating AI adoption across industries to improve Europe’s lagging productivity, rather than competing to create the most advanced AI models.
- EU envoy highlights AI adoption over model supremacy
- Focus on practical AI use in key industries
- Policy strategy and sector assessments expected by early 2027
What happened
At a private seminar on 4 September, Jim Hagemann Snabe, the EU’s special envoy for industrial AI, advised the 27 European commissioners to shift focus from AI model development to applying AI to improve Europe’s slow productivity. Snabe shared that AI advancements could particularly benefit sectors such as health, agriculture, transportation, defense, and manufacturing.
Similar messaging was given the week earlier by a Commission AI expert to the commissioners’ heads of cabinet. The discussions followed comments by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizing that Europe does not need to develop frontier AI models to maximize AI’s value, reinforcing a practical, use-focused approach.
Why it matters
The EU faces stiff competition from the US and China, which dominate AI model innovation and computing power. However, by prioritizing AI adoption in industries and streamlining regulatory frameworks, Europe aims to capture productivity gains and economic growth without needing to lead in AI frontier technologies.
This pragmatic approach hopes to accelerate AI deployment in key sectors, such as easier testing regulations for autonomous vehicles and secure data spaces for personalized medicine. The envoy’s message also addresses concerns about regulatory slowdowns and cybersecurity risks, spotlighting the need for balanced policy support to encourage faster AI uptake.
What to watch next
Snabe's team is conducting sector-by-sector studies on effective AI integration, with plans to draft recommendations by the end of 2026. A comprehensive report and the EU’s updated AI strategy are expected to be unveiled in early 2027, outlining policy measures to encourage AI adoption across the union.
Meanwhile, debates continue within the EU about balancing AI use with innovation leadership. Some policymakers call for Europe to increase its AI infrastructure, aiming to hold 15% of global computing capacity by 2030, while others criticize delays in enforcing the AI Act and warn of security challenges linked to AI technologies.