Is there a feminist seat at the European AI table?
The Paris AI Summit marks an important moment in shaping the future of AI in Europe. More than just a gathering of policymakers and technology leaders, it was a defining event that will set the agenda for AI development in Europe and beyond. The issues discussed, the alliances formed and, in particular, the closed-door conversations will influence the future of AI.
While official announcements dominate the headlines, the most important developments often take place during side events that rarely receive media attention. Who gets a seat at the table?
The current AI climate is aggressive, with immense pressure to innovate and compete. Can Europe ensure that fundamental rights are protected in this race for technological dominance?
French President Emmanuel Macron has positioned the Paris AI Summit as a “wake-up call” for a European strategy to become competitive in a tech world currently dominated by the United States and China. His leadership provides tech startups like FemAI with hope and motivation. So does OpenAI’s new office in Munich as well as the launch of MISSION KI in Germany.
Funding is crucial and Europe needs this wake-up call, encouraged by bold steps like the investment initiative led by German venture capitalist Jeannette zu Fürstenberg. Ahead of the AI Summit, more than 60 companies and investors pledged to invest €150 billion over the next five years to boost Europe’s AI initiatives. The EU unveils €200 Billion AI Investment Plan, Largest Public-Private Partnership for ‘Trustworthy AI’.
These commitments are crucial for AI startups like FemAI to secure our European position in a global competition!
However, following the new twist on AI in Europe – is there a seat at the table for a startup like FemAI taking the issue of biases at our core aiming to certify trustworthy AI? Did you read any news from the Paris AI Summit on the topic of a bias-free AI vision for Europe?
The significant $97.4 billion bid by Elon Musk to acquire OpenAI dominated the news. This move underscores concerns about the concentration of AI power in the hands of a few dominant players, now also dominating the news worldwide.
Our experience in advising the EU, the German Foreign Office, the UN and over 25 organizations on their ethical AI guidelines has shown that trustworthy AI can secure democracies and offers better product performance. The key to success is a multi-stakeholder approach. With the EU AI Act in place, Europe’s competitive position is clear: trust. This is why biases in AI cannot fall off the table right now.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed AI bias as his first concern, calling for democratized technology and bias-free AI—an appeal aligned with FemAI’s vision. Modi stressed the need for responsible innovation to ensure AI serves humanity with equity.
The equation is simple: less bias, more trust.
In all of this activity, we urge our friends in positions of power to think carefully about how they structure emerging projects. While we welcome the winds of change, trustworthiness must remain our guiding principle in Europe as it will stay our only long-term competitive advantage.
At the same time, responsible AI startups need to shift the focus to securing new funding that enables strategic thinking.
We need to cultivate an abundance mindset, be bold, be louder and prioritize values over limits as we reimagine the future we want to create.
@maxkuwertz hat im Rahmen der Zusammenarbeit zwischen FemAl und @zeit_campus gezeigt, wie GenAl inklusiv genutzt werden kann.
