#AItowards2040

Almost one year ago a political deal was reached on the AI Act Regulation, which entered into force last August. Since then, the work has started in terms of implementation at the AI Office / EC level but also within each and every entity using/deploying AI to be ready by the various deadlines. At the same time it has been made clear by the EU Court of Auditors in its report on AI published in May 2024 that the EU has to wake up in terms of AI investment to ensure it will not miss that revolution. The Court indeed concluded that increased, more focused investment on AI is essential going forward. As a reaction, the Council agreed in its conclusions that the EU must scale up investments in AI and strengthen its ambitions. This is indeed essential to support EU competitiveness, digital transition and autonomy. The new European Commission has announced in the meantime new initiatives on AI to launch AI factories and a new AI and Cloud Act.

To start its 2025 series on AI, the EIF will have a first event on where the EU stands in terms of AI investment while preparing for the implementation of the AI Act, and how to support and increase them to ensure the EU will take the full benefit from this new industrial revolution. This debate will gather representatives from public authorities including Ms Lucilla Sioli Director of the EU AI Office, as well as representatives from the private sector.

• Programme

  Opening remarks

  Brando Benifei MEP and EIF Steering Committee Member

  Speakers

  Lucilla Sioli, Director of the EU AI Office, DG CONNECT, European Commission

  Peteris Zilgalvis, Judge at the General Court of the European Union

  Margarete Rudzki, Head of unit for digital policy at ZDH, German member organisation of SMEunited, representing SMEunited

  Marco Leto Barone, Policy Director - Europe, Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

  Exchange of views with the participants under the Chatham House rule