EU Council Reaches Agreement on AI Supercomputer Development

iexclusivenews – The Council of the European Union has announced plans to amend the current regulation governing the European High Performing Computer Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).

This amendment aims to update the regulation to include the development and operation of local AI factories, providing additional infrastructure for AI supercomputing services.

Objectives of the Amendment

The proposed amendment builds on the foundational work of EuroHPC, established in 2018 to lead European supercomputing initiatives. Currently, EuroHPC manages nine supercomputers across Europe, which have been developed since the initiative’s onset.

The new AI factories proposed by the amendment will further this mission, providing additional resources for AI startups in the EU to innovate and train their models.

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Key Features of the Amendment

• The Council calls for the EuroHPC Governing Board to establish special access conditions for AI supercomputers, prioritizing startups and small to medium-sized enterprises.
• Hosting entities can receive up to 50% of the acquisition and operational costs of AI supercomputers from the Union.
• Ownership of these machines can be transferred to the hosting entities five years post-acceptance testing.
• The AI supercomputers will primarily focus on developing, testing, evaluating, and validating large-scale AI training models and emerging AI applications.

Impact on AI Development in the EU

The proposed regulation is part of a broader AI initiative announced by the EU’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, and signifies a strategic move to enhance Europe’s AI capabilities.

The EU has been at the forefront of developing AI policies to be implemented across the region.

In March 2024, the EU passed its landmark AI Act, the world’s first set of comprehensive AI regulations aimed at safe and ethical AI development in the region.

Conclusion: The EU Council’s agreement on the amendment to the EuroHPC regulation marks a significant milestone in the development of AI in the EU. The proposed amendment aims to provide additional resources and infrastructure for AI startups, enhance AI capabilities, and promote safe and ethical AI development in the region. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, this amendment is a crucial step towards ensuring the EU remains at the forefront of AI innovation.