he European Union might be rolling back its red tape.
The European Commission will unveil a “digital omnibus” package in late November, according to POLITICO, aimed at simplifying its tech and privacy laws. The amendments include broad changes to the General Data Protection Regulation, the EU’s strict rules governing individuals’ control over their personal data.
The move could open doors for tech giants seeking to grow their AI footprint in Europe, something which model providers are already ramping up to do.
- Bloomberg reported in late October that ChatGPT Enterprise adoption is up sixfold year-over-year in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
- As part of its broader international expansion, Anthropic last week announced new offices in Paris and Munich. The company noted in a press release that the region has become its fastest-growing market, with customers representing more than $100,000 in run-rate revenue growing ten times over the past year.
The move could also help strengthen homegrown AI in the region. While the EU has a few stand-out AI firms, such as Mistral AI and DeepL, the region has largely struggled to keep pace with the rapid development of U.S. and Chinese firms.
This move is not the region’s first attempt to try and compete. In early October, EU officials outlined two plans to boost AI adoption and research, and announced a $1.1 billion investment in doing so. The plans specifically target European workforces adopting the tech and raising the profile of the EU’s AI-powered scientific research.
And following pressure from the Trump administration and Big Tech, the European Commission is also reportedly weighing plans to delay parts of the EU AI Act, a landmark initiative to rein in AI development that could pose a risk to people’s safety, offering a yearlong “grace period” to companies that break these rules.