The European Commission has launched a call for tenders to construct up to seven AI gigafactories across the European Union. These vast computing hubs are designed to provide the raw power necessary to train frontier AI models as the bloc seeks to hyperscale its capabilities.
The initiative aims to close the technology gap with the United States and China while cutting reliance on overseas technology. By developing sovereign AI infrastructure, the EU intends to gain independence from non-European governments.
The plan involves raising state and private funds, with reports indicating an investment of 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion), though the overall effort is pitched at roughly 30 billion euros. The commission expects this infrastructure to become operational by mid-2028.
Despite the goal of building out the bloc's tech capabilities, the project faces several obstacles. These include budget uncertainty, the need for compliance with environmental standards, and a continuing dependence on American technology.