Csernatoni: The EU's AI Power Play

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from Raluca Csernatoni’s analysis of European Union AI policy, regulation, and innovation strategies.

AI Act

The world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence systems in use, characterized by a precautionary and ethics-driven philosophy to safeguard fundamental rights.

Brussels Effect

A phenomenon where the European Union's large single market and proactive tech regulations historically give the bloc an outsize global influence, setting international benchmarks.

Strategic Autonomy

The European Union's pursuit of technological sovereignty and the reduction of strategic dependencies on external providers for essential AI components and infrastructure.

EuroStack

A proposed initiative for a European tech infrastructure designed to build local capacity across digital value chains and reduce dependence on foreign cloud providers and semiconductor manufacturers.

AI Factories

Collaborative sites bankrolled by the EU and member states that combine supercomputers, data, and expertise to accelerate the development and training of AI models.

Dual-Use AI

AI systems and models that are inherently capable of being used for both civilian applications and military or defense purposes.

AI Office

The European Union's center of AI expertise that pools resources to shorten training times for models and bolster the bloc's technological autonomy.

Competitiveness Compass

A tool unveiled by the European Commission designed to slash administrative burdens by simplifying the regulatory environment while prioritizing speed and agility.

AI Liability Directive

A proposed legal framework regarding noncontractual civil liability for damages caused by AI systems, which was abruptly cancelled by the commission in 2025.

Presumption of Causality

A legal principle introduced in the proposed AI liability directive where victims would no longer shoulder the entire burden of proving precisely how an AI system caused them harm.

EuroHPC (European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking)

A collaborative initiative between the EU, European countries, and private-sector partners to develop a world-class supercomputing ecosystem.

Stargate

A $500\,billion$ private-sector U.S. AI infrastructure project involving OpenAI, Oracle, Softbank, and MGX to build massive data centers.

DeepSeek

A Chinese developer of Large Language Models (LLMs) that released an affordable, power-efficient generative AI model in early 2025.

Human-Centric AI

An AI governance model that prioritizes high ethical standards, fundamental rights, and trust to ensure technology remains aligned with democratic values.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

An advanced level of AI capabilities whose pursuit by industry leaders, often driven by profit motives, presents significant societal and existential risks.

Mistral and Aleph Alpha

Prominent European generative AI companies that serve as examples of firms struggling to compete with U.S. giants due to a lack of venture capital.

Dirigiste Approach

An economic statecraft model used by the EU involving coordinated, collaborative, and publicly financed infrastructure to bolster digital sovereignty.