Michiel Bakker's Europe 2031 project rolls out a five-year speculative narrative on how lagging AI infrastructure investment could push the continent toward geopolitical and economic irrelevance, complete with a 2034 epilogue sketching reversal steps, plus full text, a short summary, and an audio narration by Tom Chivers hosted at europe2031.ai.
"What will happen to Europe if it keeps ignoring AI?"
Three American labs each (!!) operate more AI compute than all of Europe combined. Today we're launching Europe 2031: a story of what might happen if that doesn't change.
The scenario stresses Europe's dependence on outside compute resources and the resulting erosion of economic resilience without detailing verified spending figures or exact timelines beyond the core projection.
An appended 2034 section maps hypothetical prevention paths, leaving readers to weigh whether the outlined steps could realistically shift Europe's position before the projected slide accelerates.
Many users praised the reports warning Europe risks AI irrelevance by 2031 without better strategy, calling the topic important and thanking the contributors for their work.
Scenario: https://europe2031.ai Summary: https://europe2031.ai/summary Audio: https://europe2031.ai/audio/
The ⭐⭐⭐ team: Daan Juijn, Stan van Baarsen @DadaJudith Lily Stelling, @philip_fox_ @AlexTPet @TomChivers
"What will happen to Europe if it keeps ignoring AI?"
Three American labs each (!!) operate more AI compute than all of Europe combined. Today we're launching Europe 2031: a story of what might happen if that doesn't change.
I'm deeply concerned about Europe's future on AI. One of my biggest worries is our erosion of agency, our ability to stay relevant and fight for our values in a future where AI becomes a civilisationally important technology.
Myself, @DadaJudith , @bakkermichiel and others have written a scenario to outline a potential future we worry we are on track towards.
https://europe2031.ai/
Every optimistic and realistic path I can see for Europe runs through a central node - one where Europe has more leverage, more importance and more say. One where Europe grows more, builds more where it matters, and takes ownership over its resilience.
Europe 2031 is a five-year scenario of the continent's slide into irrelevance: how AI is driving it, and what can still be done.
The co-authors are researchers, scientists and investors who have advised European leaders, co-authored national AI strategies, built and funded these systems from the inside. We have no interest in hype and we deeply care about this continent.
Europe 2031 ends with five concrete recommendations: - drastically more compute on European soil - an AI middle-power coalition - labour-market reforms - a bold position in robotics and industrial AI - and a positive vision of what AI can do for society.
Europe can still change course if it finds the political will and the courage to engage in the most ambitious political and economic agenda the continent has undertaken in peacetime.
I encourage you to read it if you have the time:
@AlexTPet @DadaJudith @bakkermichiel This is amazing work. Thank you
@AlexTPet @DadaJudith @bakkermichiel Very important topic! Thanks for working on this Alex
Scenario: https://europe2031.ai/ Summary: https://europe2031.ai/ Audio: https://europe2031.ai/audio/
Written alongside Daan Juijn, Stan van Baarsen @DadaJudith Lily Stelling, @philip_fox_ @TomChivers
"What will happen to Europe if it keeps ignoring AI?"
Three American labs each (!!) operate more AI compute than all of Europe combined. Today we're launching Europe 2031: a story of what might happen if that doesn't change.
@F_McCullough @DadaJudith @bakkermichiel thank you Fergus. Your own work on getting Europe building again will be instrumental in getting us back on track!
Europe 2031: What getting AI wrong means for us - discussed it all with @SebJohnsonUK
Europe is running the risk of sliding into complete and utter irrelevance if we do fix our approach to AI.
@DadaJudith, alongside some of the greatest AI researchers in Europe, have written a predictive narrative outlining what will happen to Europe in the next 5 years if we don't drastically course correct.
And it is BLEAK.
The document reads like a short story and outlines how Europe slides into irrelevance due to fundamental mistakes made in AI.
The things we truly love in Europe are at risk if we do not get this right, and we need to WAKE UP.
European leaders have not taken AI seriously, and as a result our continent has fallen miles behind the US.
It is NOT too late however, to turn things around and Europe 2031 explains what we need to do.
I spoke to Judith this week about Europe 2031 and what can be done, so read the document or listen in and TAKE ACTION.
This is one of the most pivotal moments in European history.
Timestamps:
0:55 - Introduction 1:23 - Europe 2031 4:35 - Where Europe went wrong on AI 8:17 - Who the scenario is for 10:07 - Fixing Europe’s decision-making 12:28 - The trade-offs Europe must make 14:09 - Who should be driving change 15:43 - Sovereignty vs leverage 16:55 - Europe’s compute problem 19:30 - What sovereignty really means 21:17 - Measuring success for Europe 2031 22:28 - Five policy priorities for Europe 24:34 - Can Europe still change course?
Amazing stuff from @bakkermichiel, @philip_fox_, @AlexTPet, @TomChivers among others
@bakkermichiel Summary:
It's so over. We could be so back.
@northead @DadaJudith @bakkermichiel thank you, Edoardo!
@bakkermichiel @SwedishPM take heed plz
Michiel Bakker's Europe 2031 project rolls out a five-year speculative narrative on how lagging AI infrastructure investment could push the continent toward geopolitical and economic irrelevance, complete with a 2034 epilogue sketching reversal steps, plus full text, a short summary, and an audio narration by Tom Chivers hosted at europe2031.ai.
"What will happen to Europe if it keeps ignoring AI?"
Three American labs each (!!) operate more AI compute than all of Europe combined. Today we're launching Europe 2031: a story of what might happen if that doesn't change.
