EU Leaders Discuss AI Strategy and Ukraine in Dublin

European Union leaders met in Dublin on November 13 for their first summit dedicated to artificial intelligence, discussing how to strengthen the bloc’s competitiveness and technological capacity as the United States and China advance in the field. The informal meeting, chaired by European Council President António Costa, also included Ukraine on its agenda, though the reports do not establish what leaders ultimately agreed on either issue.

Costa said in an invitation letter that AI’s rapid development warranted a dedicated discussion among leaders about its opportunities and effects on European economies and societies. The agenda included competitiveness, technological sovereignty, AI’s social impact and safety, as well as funding, regulation and ways to support European capabilities.

Mistral AI chief executive Arthur Mensch and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton were scheduled to brief leaders. Mensch was to address European competitiveness and sovereignty, while Hinton was to discuss AI’s broader effects on society. The meeting was intended to give leaders a shared basis for considering the challenges, according to an EU official.

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