At the VivaTech 2025 event, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang sounded the alarm about Europe’s future in the global race for artificial intelligence. With only 5% of the world’s AI computing capacity, the continent risks becoming irrelevant without a truly sovereign strategy. American dominance and China’s centralized approach highlight the need for Europe to wake up and act to avoid falling into technological oblivion. During his captivating keynote address at VivaTech 2025 in Paris, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang highlighted Europe’s vulnerability in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Noting that Europe currently possesses only 5% of the world’s AI computing capacity, Huang expressed that without a solid strategy, the continent could find itself lagging behind powers like the United States and China. The importance of sovereign AI adapted to local needs and autonomous infrastructure is more crucial than ever. The Urgency of a Sovereign StrategyEurope’s AI capabilities are facing a chilling reality. While giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI dominate the American market with a centralized approach and massive investment, Europe is struggling to muster the resources needed to build its own infrastructure. Jensen Huang was clear: « Without its own AI infrastructure, Europe risks becoming irrelevant in the global race. » This challenge to AI sovereignty raises the question of the continent’s strategic autonomy in the face of ever-increasing dependence on foreign actors. Partnerships to the rescue of Europe To counter this worrying trend, new initiatives are emerging. Notable cooperation in France betweenMistral AIand NVIDIA aims to deploy 18,000 Blackwell chips to create Mistral Compute , a sovereign cloud platform. Similarly, German companies are rallying around an AI cloud to support the manufacturing industry, a project supported by Siemens. These initiatives mark a decisive turning point, but they remain insufficient compared to the momentum in the United States and China. The Risks of Overregulation While Europe excels in protecting digital rights,overly strict legislation could have a chilling effect on innovation. In comparison, the United States is taking a softer approach, favoring the rapid development of AI technologies. If Europe is lagging behind, it is not only due to a lack of initiative, but also because its regulatory framework could hamper the growth of innovative startups. Multi-layered governance for the future To address these challenges, Huang proposed the establishment of multi-layered governance where AIs supervise other AIs, thus ensuring their reliability. This bold vision could revolutionize the technological landscape, positioning it alongside the defining innovations of the 21st century. It is clear that the time has come for Europe to rely on its strengths, while also living with the urgency to act. Healthy competition or a risk of elitism? The issue of the accessibility of AI resources raises concerns about a possible « technological priesthood. » Some fear that access to AI resources will be reserved only for the wealthy. Jensen Huang, however, dismisses this idea out of hand, asserting that innovations like the Blackwell chips, combined with collaborations with players such as BMW, demonstrate that AI can and should be accessible to all. Imagination and innovation must prevail over a race where only the privileged come out on top. A European initiative not to be overlooked
The initiatives taken by countries such as Italy, Spain, Finland, and the United Kingdom illustrate a shared desire to build a robust AI infrastructure in the face of global challenges. However, with the slow regulatory response from Brussels, Europe must further intensify its efforts to avoid being left behind. The fight for a sustainable and responsible technological future has begun. In short, if Europe wishes to avoid being overshadowed by the powers shaping our technological future, it must urgently reassess and strengthen its artificial intelligence strategies. In a world where AI is becoming a fundamental pillar of growth and innovation, national sovereignty is proving to be the unavoidable challenge of the coming years.
To read Claude s’ouvre au grand public : AWS déploie toute la plateforme IA d’Anthropic pour tous
