European institutions falling behind on AI, warn top unis

In a position paper published on November 19, the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities advised universities and the EU on how and why Europe should boost its research capabilities through the use of AI.

The paper outlined how universities should integrate AI into their institutional strategies as well as the daily lives of students, teachers, researchers and staff.

It called on European universities and financiers to prioritise AI for its newest investments, advising institutions to consider AI more seriously as a research method and a force for societal change due to concerns that the continent is being left behind in AI advancements.

Because of its lack of EU backing, AI currently has a low representation of European language data, which limits European access to AI tools, the paper said.

But the recently launched EU initiative, the Alliance for Language Technologies (ALT-EDIC), has increased the amount of European language in AI engines to keep Europe as a leading AI user and researcher.

The Guild called on universities, European financiers, and the EU to strengthen research in AI, use it increasingly as a tool for cross-disciplinary research – especially in STEM subjects – increase training for using AI in research and optimise infrastructure and data, such as improving computing infrastructure and data availability.

This is to ensure research and education can fully help propel Europe’s leadership in AI itself
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Jan Palmowski, secretary general of The Guild pointed out that EU commissioner for commissioner for start-ups Ekaterina Zaharieva is fighting to put forward a strategy to increase the uptake of AI by European scientists. As such, a “holistic approach” is needed, he said.

“This is to ensure research and education can fully help propel Europe’s leadership in AI itself and in applying its uses to help generate breakthrough knowledge and application. We urge the [European] Commission, but also funders, governments and universities to closely align in the upcoming strategy and ensure that this alignment is implemented.”