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Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the defining technologies of the 21st century. Far beyond its impact on productivity and innovation, AI is increasingly shaping economic competitiveness, national security, democratic resilience, and geopolitical influence. As governments around the world race to develop regulatory frameworks and technological capabilities, Europe finds itself at a crucial crossroads.
In an interview with The Transatlantic Ledger, Member of the European Parliament Brando Benifei, one of the leading voices behind the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, outlined his vision for Europe’s role in the emerging global AI landscape. His assessment offers valuable insight into how Europe can balance innovation, regulation, security, and international cooperation in an increasingly competitive technological environment.
The AI Act: A Global Reference Point
The European Union became the first major political bloc to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence through the AI Act. While critics have argued that regulation could hinder innovation, Benifei believes the legislation is progressing largely as intended.
According to him, the implementation of the AI Act is advancing step by step, with several key provisions already in force. Internationally, the legislation is increasingly serving as a reference model for other jurisdictions. Countries such as Brazil, as well as several U.S. states, have begun adopting elements of the EU’s risk-based regulatory approach.
For Benifei, this demonstrates that Europe is not merely regulating technology but helping to shape global standards for responsible AI development.
Trust as a Competitive Advantage
A central theme throughout Benifei’s analysis is the concept of trust.
In his view, Europe’s greatest opportunity lies not in competing directly with Silicon Valley or Chinese technology giants on scale alone, but in creating an ecosystem where citizens, businesses, and public institutions can confidently adopt artificial intelligence.
This is particularly important in sectors where mistakes can have significant consequences, including healthcare, public administration, education, financial services, and critical infrastructure.
“People will only embrace AI at scale if they trust it,” Benifei argues.
Rather than viewing regulation as an obstacle, he sees clear and proportionate rules as an essential foundation for innovation. Businesses are more likely to invest when legal certainty exists, and consumers are more willing to use technologies that are subject to meaningful safeguards.
Trust as a Competitive Advantage
One of the most striking arguments Benifei makes is that Europe’s technological challenges are often misdiagnosed.
The common narrative suggests that excessive regulation is responsible for Europe lagging behind the United States and China in AI development. Benifei strongly disagrees.
The primary obstacles, he argues, are insufficient investment, fragmented markets, limited access to advanced computing infrastructure, talent shortages, and comparatively high energy costs.
While the United States has produced dozens of major foundation models, Europe has generated only a handful. However, this gap cannot be explained by regulation alone. Instead, it reflects structural weaknesses that have accumulated over many years.
For Europe to remain competitive, policymakers must focus not only on governance but also on strengthening innovation ecosystems, expanding computing capacity, attracting talent, and increasing investment in research and development.
Digital Sovereignty Becomes a Strategic Imperative
The conversation around artificial intelligence is increasingly linked to a broader debate about digital sovereignty.
For Benifei, strategic autonomy is no longer an abstract political concept. It has become a practical necessity in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Europe remains heavily dependent on foreign providers for semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and advanced computing capabilities. These dependencies create vulnerabilities that could be exploited during political or economic crises.
Digital sovereignty does not mean isolationism. Rather, Benifei advocates what he describes as “open strategic autonomy” — maintaining strong partnerships while ensuring that Europe possesses sufficient technological capabilities of its own.
The objective is not to disengage from allies but to ensure that access to critical technologies can never be used as a geopolitical weapon against Europe.
The Need for a Strong Transatlantic Partnership
Despite occasional disagreements between Brussels and Washington, Benifei believes that cooperation between Europe and the United States remains essential.
Artificial intelligence is becoming too important for democratic nations to develop competing and incompatible frameworks. Fragmented approaches increase costs for businesses, create legal uncertainty, and ultimately benefit authoritarian competitors.
At the same time, Benifei acknowledges that differences remain. European digital regulation is often viewed in Washington through the lens of trade policy, while European policymakers frequently express concerns regarding the lack of comprehensive federal AI legislation in the United States.
Nevertheless, he argues that both sides should focus on areas where consensus already exists. These include online child protection, cybersecurity, combating harmful deepfakes, election security, and establishing interoperable safety standards.
Rather than seeking a single global rulebook, Europe and America should pursue regulatory interoperability, allowing companies to operate effectively across both markets.
The China Challenge
The rapid rise of Chinese AI capabilities has added a new dimension to the global technology race.
Benifei points to recent developments such as DeepSeek as evidence that cutting-edge AI capabilities are no longer concentrated within a single ecosystem. Competition is becoming increasingly global, and Europe must adapt accordingly.
Yet the contest extends beyond technology itself.
It is also a competition between governance models.
Democratic societies seek to develop AI while preserving fundamental rights, transparency, and accountability. Authoritarian systems often prioritize state control and surveillance. The standards established today may influence how AI is governed around the world for decades to come.
For this reason, Europe’s approach to AI regulation carries significance far beyond its own borders.
AI as an Economic and Security Issue
Artificial intelligence is no longer merely an economic policy question.
According to Benifei, AI is increasingly tied to national security, military capabilities, and geopolitical influence.
Countries that control advanced computing resources, critical data infrastructure, and technological standards will possess significant strategic leverage. The ability to access or restrict key technologies may become a powerful instrument of geopolitical pressure.
This reality requires policymakers to think beyond traditional innovation policy and consider AI as part of a broader framework of economic security and strategic resilience.
NATO and the Future of Security
The growing integration of AI into defence systems raises important questions for NATO and transatlantic security institutions.
Benifei believes NATO should focus on ensuring interoperability among allied systems, strengthening cyber resilience, combating disinformation, and protecting democratic elections from manipulation.
At the same time, he stresses the importance of maintaining meaningful human control over military AI applications.
As automated systems become more sophisticated, democratic oversight and accountability must remain central principles. Decisions involving security and defence cannot simply be delegated to opaque algorithms.
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future of transatlantic cooperation in emerging technologies, Benifei remains cautiously optimistic.
He sees several possible trajectories for the relationship between Europe and the United States. While tensions and disagreements are inevitable, the fundamental partnership is likely to endure.
However, Europe must enter that partnership from a position of greater strength.
Achieving this will require investment, technological capacity, political unity, and a clear strategic vision. Strategic autonomy, if implemented wisely, should not weaken the transatlantic alliance. On the contrary, Benifei argues that a more capable and self-confident Europe will ultimately become a stronger partner for the United States.
As artificial intelligence continues to transform economies, societies, and international relations, Europe faces a defining challenge. The choices made today regarding innovation, regulation, sovereignty, and cooperation will shape not only Europe’s digital future but also its role in the emerging global order.
The debate over AI is therefore about far more than technology. It is about the future balance between freedom and security, innovation and accountability, dependence and autonomy. In that debate, Europe intends not merely to participate, but to lead.
Picture: © European Union 2026 – Source : EP
