Europe needs more data centers. Many more.
But if we want citizens to support the physical infrastructure that will sustain the future of European artificial intelligence, transparency must be the indispensable starting point.
As I pointed out to Mathieu Pollet in POLITICO Europe, we need reliable, verified data on the energy and water consumption of data centers in Europe. At the same time, we must ensure that this transparency is proportionate and does not force companies to disclose commercially sensitive information that undermines their competitiveness.
This is especially critical now that Europe is preparing to massively expand its computing capacity.
The debate cannot be framed as a false dilemma between data centers or sustainability.
It must focus on building the energy, the electricity grid and the digital infrastructure that allow Europe to scale its cloud and AI capacity in a competitive, sustainable and transparent way.
This is, precisely, one of the key balances we must get right in the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA).
Europe will not achieve technological sovereignty without infrastructure. And infrastructure does not thrive without the trust of society.
But if we want citizens to support the physical infrastructure that will sustain the future of European artificial intelligence, transparency must be the indispensable starting point.
As I pointed out to Mathieu Pollet in POLITICO Europe, we need reliable, verified data on the energy and water consumption of data centers in Europe. At the same time, we must ensure that this transparency is proportionate and does not force companies to disclose commercially sensitive information that undermines their competitiveness.
This is especially critical now that Europe is preparing to massively expand its computing capacity.
The debate cannot be framed as a false dilemma between data centers or sustainability.
It must focus on building the energy, the electricity grid and the digital infrastructure that allow Europe to scale its cloud and AI capacity in a competitive, sustainable and transparent way.
This is, precisely, one of the key balances we must get right in the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA).
Europe will not achieve technological sovereignty without infrastructure. And infrastructure does not thrive without the trust of society.
