The European Union is one of the biggest investors in AI, but how is this funding being allocated, and is it delivering on the EU’s commitment to responsible AI?
The European Union has set out to become the global leader in trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, and to achieve this, it has committed the largest public funding to invest in AI over the next decade. However, an analysis of the EU’s investment in AI development reveals a significant mismatch between its ambition to lead on responsible AI and the allocation of its own funds to deliver on this objective.
The EU invested 10bn euros into AI via its Framework Programmes between 2014 and 2020, representing 13.4% of all available funding. However, the investment process is top-down, with little input from researchers or feedback from previous grantees or civil society organizations. Furthermore, despite the EU’s aim to fund market-focused innovation, research institutions and higher and secondary education establishments received 73% of the total funding between 2007 and 2020. Germany, France, and the UK were the largest recipients, receiving 37.4% of the total EU budget.
| The EU aims to become the “home of trustworthy Artificial Intelligence” and has committed the biggest existing public funding to invest in AI over the next decade. However, a recent analysis of the EU’s investment in AI development reveals a significant mismatch between the EU’s ambition in leading on responsible AI and the allocation of its own funds to deliver on this objective. |
The lack of accessible data and comprehensive reporting on the Framework Programmes’ results and impact hinders the EU’s capacity to achieve its objectives and undermines the credibility of its commitments. The research commissioned by the European AI & Society Fund recommends publicly accessible data, effective evaluation of the real-world impacts of funding, and mechanisms for civil society participation in funding before investing further public funds to achieve the EU’s goal of being the epicenter of trustworthy AI.
The report highlights the negative impact of the European Union’s investment in artificial intelligence (AI), including a top-down system with little space for SMEs, a techno-solutionist approach without proper evaluation, and a lack of investment in innovation. There is a concentration of funding in established research centers and specific geographies, raising questions about whether EU investment reflects the innovation landscape. Also, the report explores the lack of commitment to ethical AI, with only 30.3% of funding calls related to AI mentioning trustworthiness, privacy, or ethics.
To address these issues, the report recommends transparency, metrics, and inclusion. The EU institutions need to make public all data on public funding mechanisms and outcomes in ways that allow for systematic analysis and research. The EU Commission needs to develop and implement impact assessments that address the economic and societal impacts of the research they are funding. The EU institutions and Member States need to create mechanisms to incentivize the participation of civil society in funding, to ensure that the public interest is represented in the development of AI.
In conclusion, consolidating the space carved out by the EU and taking specific steps towards trustworthy AI will require an effort to contribute to the future of AI in ways that are accessible, equitable, and sustainable. Public money needs to be allocated in a way that reflects the needs of society and encourages innovation. By creating an environment that prioritizes ethical AI, the EU can become the epicenter of trustworthy AI and ensure that the benefits of this technology are felt by all.
