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It was easily imaginable that issues relating to the development of artificial intelligence would be given more space in the debate at international level over time. This was evidenced, for instance, by the Italian-led G7 outreach session at the 13-15 June summit in Puglia, focused precisely on these issues. On that occasion, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni even obtained the presence of the Pontiff, who opened the proceedings with an enlightening speech in which he expressed his admiration and concern for an instrument that he described as ‘fascinating and tremendous’, ranging between ethics and algorethics.
INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The subject of artificial intelligence is now making a comeback in the international debate, first and foremost because of Elon Musk’s desire to expand his interest in this field. Secondly, because of the announcement made by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the plenary session of the AI Action Summit at the Grand Palais, whereby she would like to propose through the EU an investment of €200 billion in the development of AI. The one announced by von der Leyen is an alliance between the European Union institutions and some important private partners. The initiative, called ‘EU AI Champions Initiative’, brings together more than sixty companies, including major industrial groups such as Airbus, L’Oréal, Mercedes and Siemens, as well as technology partners including Spotify and Mistral AI. The goal sought by President von der Leyen with this new initiative is to make Europe a major player in the field of technological development and artificial intelligence. A desire that would go hand in hand with the European Union’s decision to focus on gigafactories, for which EUR 20 billion have already been earmarked.
THE STOP TO MUSK AND THE POSITION OF THE USA
Elon Musk’s hostile bid for OpenAI (reportedly $97.4 billion) was made in order to regain possession of the company co-founded by the South African tycoon. A transaction that came at the same time as the presence in Paris of Sam Altman, Musk’s former partner and current CEO of OpenAI. Altman’s retort, which in practice branded the sale of the company as impossible, was to offer (provocatively) 9.74 billion to buy X from Musk. A backlash that many commentators have also pointed to as part of the initial US uncertainty about the final document of the Paris meeting, which was attended by US Vice President J.D. Vance. The US signature, as well as that of the UK, did not come in the end (while 61 countries signed, including China and India) mainly because of the passages expressing the willingness to develop an inclusive artificial intelligence. In fact, it is now clear that one of the tycoon’s battles is against the elements of inclusiveness in American society and the extremist approaches of the woke culture. Vance emphasised in his speech that one should refrain from developing the artificial intelligence sector with regimes that are considered authoritarian or even with countries that have excessive regulations. The attack in the latter case is definitely on the European Union, which has been accused on several occasions of having an over-regulatory approach to artificial intelligence and the development of the sector by foreign big tech. This is an element of pressure that Vance himself had already used, threatening to go so far as to withdraw from the Atlantic Alliance if the European Union intervened against Elon Musk’s X platform.
RETHINKING ENERGY
Quite apart from international economic speculation and the investment projects presented by the President of the European Commission, there is some very recent data that can add fundamental elements to the artificial intelligence debate. These are the numbers provided by the latest report of the non-profit organisation ‘Beyond Fossil Fuels’, which seem to clash with the European Union’s technological development goals and the much-hyped (in an ideological manner while keeping the debate away from constructive criticism) Green Deal. The data mainly concern the energy consumption by data centres at European level and the progressive increase that this consumption could have over the next five years. Therefore, we are not talking about long-term analyses, but rather about numbers concerning the next five years. In fact, it is estimated that by 2030, data centres could consume 287 TWh per year, an increase of about 160% compared to now. This consumption could be driven mainly by the development and use of artificial intelligence and would be comparable to Spain’s energy consumption in 2022. Of course, when analysing these figures, it becomes clear that if the growing demand for electricity cannot be fully supported by renewables (also given the stringent targets imposed by the European Union on member states in the coming years), fossil fuels would continue to play an important, if not prominent role in the European Union’s energy supply. It is in this scenario that the diversification of energy sources, without prejudice or preconceptions, that has been proposed on several occasions – including by the Meloni government for Italy – can be the true springboard for technological development and for the digital turnaround that is so badly needed among EU member states.
THE ENERGY FACTOR AND THE INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE
Energy factors and the redesigning of the supply landscape are, therefore, elements that fully enter the debate on technological development and artificial intelligence at EU level. The common aim is certainly not to relegate the member states to a secondary role from a technological and digital point of view compared to the United States or China. The European Union must in fact have all the characteristics to play a role as a partner and on an equal footing with the other great commercial and technological powers. To do this, however, it is necessary to build infrastructures and rethink the sources of supply without ideological preconceptions and preconditions. To ensure that we can move from statements of principle to facts, the debate on the European Green Deal or on the digital turnaround of the Member States cannot disregard the reorganisation of energy sources, which cannot be linked solely to the desire to reduce emissions without taking into account national specificities and the just expectations of the peoples and economies of the individual Member States. To do this, one cannot tackle the crises and challenges on the international scene solely with ideological preconceptions. What the European Union needs right now is to return to analysing problems and issues with a renewed freshness of outlook, with an open mind. Of course, after 24 February 2022, with Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, diversification of energy suppliers has become a crucial issue for the EU. Replacing the gas supply from Russia has placed Italy in a central role related to energy supply. Its geographical position in the centre of the Mediterranean puts Italy in the position to be a key player in the reorganisation of energy suppliers to Europe. But the point to always bear in mind in this process – that will certainly not last long – is that the economic and growth expectations of states cannot be overridden. This means that the members’ autonomy in deciding their own energy mix, in line with the industrial and growth plan of a nation, must be guaranteed. And all of this should be coupled with a policy to increase investments in research and development that go hand in hand with energy sovereignty and independence. Digital development and investment in artificial intelligence cannot, under any circumstances, be separated from the reorganisation of the European energy system.