Tech Europe

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It seems like the AI world is becoming a bit of a battleground! While China’s DeepSeek is shaking things up by challenging the big players in Silicon Valley, a new force is emerging in Europe with a different vision for the future of AI.

Imagine a team of European researchers and companies joining forces to create their own powerful AI, but with a focus on benefiting Europe as a whole.

That’s the idea behind OpenEuroLLM. They’re not just trying to build the biggest and best AI models; they want to use AI to boost European businesses, improve public services, and make the continent a leader in the digital world.

Think of it like a European “AI for good” initiative. They’re building a collection of advanced language models that can speak multiple languages and will be freely available for anyone to use, whether it’s a small startup, a big corporation, or even a government agency.

This is a direct challenge to the current global tech order, where a few giant companies in Silicon Valley often control the latest and greatest AI technology. OpenEuroLLM wants to create a more level playing field, where European countries have the tools and resources to develop their own AI solutions and compete on a global scale.

Leading this charge is a team of experts from top universities and research labs across Europe. They’re combining their expertise in language, technology, and high-performance computing to create AI models that are powerful, reliable, and tailored to the needs of European users.

This is a fascinating development in the AI landscape. It shows that the future of AI is not just about competition between big tech companies but also about collaboration and a shared vision for how this technology can be used to benefit society. It will be interesting to see how OpenEuroLLM evolves and what impact it has on the global AI ecosystem.

They’re joined by an array of European tech luminaries. Among them are Aleph Alpha, the leading light of Germany’s AI sector; Finland’s CSC, which hosts one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers., and France’s Lights On, which recently became Europe’s first publicly-traded GenAI company.

Their alliance has been backed by the European Commission. According to Sarlin, the initiative could be the Commission’s largest-ever AI project. 

“What’s unique about this initiative is that we’re bringing together many Europe’s leading AI organisations in one focused effort, rather than having many small, fragmented projects,” he told TNW via email.

“This concentrated approach is what Europe needs to build open European AI models that eventually enable innovation at scale.”

This European AI alliance isn’t just a scientific endeavor; it’s a strategic move with significant financial backing. They’ve secured a budget of €52 million, plus they have access to some serious computing power, which is like giving them a giant toolbox filled with the latest and greatest AI-building equipment.

This funding comes from a combination of sources, including the European Commission and a special EU program designed to boost investment in key technologies. It shows that Europe is serious about investing in its own AI capabilities and reducing its reliance on technology from other countries.

You see, with the US and China making huge strides in AI, Europe is feeling a bit of pressure. They’re worried about falling behind and losing their influence in the digital world. OpenEuroLLM is like a response to this challenge, a way for Europe to assert its own vision for the future of AI.

And what is that vision? Well, it’s about more than just building powerful AI models. It’s about creating AI that reflects European values, like democracy, transparency, and openness. They want to make sure that AI is used for good and that it benefits everyone in society, not just a select few.

To achieve this, OpenEuroLLM is committed to making its AI models and all the related tools and resources completely open and accessible. This means that anyone can use them, modify them, and build upon them, fostering a spirit of collaboration and innovation across the continent.

They also want to make sure that their AI models respect Europe’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity. This means creating AI that can understand and communicate in many different languages and that reflects the unique cultural nuances of different European countries.

This is all happening at a time when Europe is feeling a bit vulnerable in the tech world. The rapid advancements in AI from the US and China have raised concerns about European companies and even European culture being overshadowed.

OpenEuroLLM is like a bold statement, saying that Europe is not going to sit on the sidelines in the AI revolution. They’re going to actively participate and shape the future of this technology in a way that aligns with their own values and interests.

Sarlin wants OpenEuroLLM to bring new hope to the continent.

”This isn’t about creating a general purpose chatbot—it’s about building the digital and AI infrastructure that enables European companies to innovate with AI,” he said. 

“Whether it’s a healthcare company developing specialized assistants to medical doctors or a bank creating personalized financial services, they need AI models adapted to the context in which they operate and that they can control and own.

“This project is about giving European businesses tools to build models and solutions in their languages that they own and control.”