I’ve sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen and commissioner for tech Henna Virkkunen that Europe should invite AI innovators. If companies are criticised abroad for building ethical safeguards into AI, Europe should be the place where they are welcomed with open arms.
Recent developments in the United States concerning the artificial intelligence company Anthropic highlight an important moment for the future of AI and the role Europe should play in shaping it.
The company refused to weaken ethical safeguards in its AI system and because of that the Trump administration reportedly ordered U.S. government agencies and other business to stop working with the company.
These safeguards, including limits on the use of AI for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal systems, are legitimate ethical red lines, set to protect fundamental rights.
The European Union has embedded fundamental rights in its own approach in the AI Act. So if Anthropic truly aims to build a value-based and trustworthy AI, it should see Europe as its natural home.
A stronger presence of Anthropic in Europe would strengthen our AI ecosystem, attract talent, stimulate research and entrepreneurship, and support the development of a European “Eurostack”.
It would also send a clear signal to innovators around the world: Europe is the place where advanced technologies can be developed responsibly and in line with democratic values.
We do not have to choose between fundamental values or new technologies. True innovation is new technologies that incorporate fundamental values.
Want to read our letter? See the PDF below.
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