Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been promoting the concept of “sovereign AI” since 2023. His message is now gaining traction in Europe, where governments are beginning to act on the idea.
The core principle of sovereign AI is that each country or region should develop its own artificial intelligence systems. This is based on the idea that every nation has its own language, history, and culture—and therefore requires AI solutions that reflect those unique characteristics.
Huang’s European Tour Sparks Momentum
Last week, Huang visited several European capitals—London, Paris, and Berlin—where he announced a series of new partnerships and AI projects. During his tour, he also stressed that Europe lacks critical AI infrastructure.
“We’re going to invest billions of dollars here,” Huang said during a speech in Paris. “But Europe needs to move into AI quickly.”
His comments come as European leaders increasingly see AI infrastructure as a matter of national and regional independence.
Political Leaders Respond with New Initiatives
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a £1 billion ($1.35 billion) plan to increase the country’s computing power. He said the goal is to “become an AI maker rather than an AI taker” in the global technology race.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron described the development of AI infrastructure as “our fight for sovereignty” while speaking at VivaTech, one of the world’s largest technology conferences.
Germany also made a significant move. Nvidia and Deutsche Telekom announced plans to build a new AI cloud platform in the country. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it an “important step” for achieving digital sovereignty and protecting Germany’s economic future.
Europe Lags in AI Infrastructure
At present, Europe remains far behind the United States and China in AI infrastructure. Most of the continent’s cloud systems are controlled by U.S. giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
Only a few European companies—such as the French AI startup Mistral—are currently able to compete. Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch, 31, spoke on a panel at VivaTech alongside Huang.
“There is no reason why Europe should not have tech champions,” Mensch said. “It’s a huge dream.”
New Data Centers and “AI Superfactories” Planned
In France, Mistral has partnered with Nvidia to build a new data center. This center aims to serve European companies looking for local AI solutions.
The first phase will include 18,000 of Nvidia’s latest AI chips. The project is expected to expand to multiple locations by 2026.
The European Union is also taking action. In February, the EU announced plans to create four “AI superfactories,” each worth $20 billion. These facilities are intended to reduce dependence on U.S. technology firms.
An EU official told Reuters that Nvidia is in contact with the European Commission. Huang has reportedly agreed to allocate some chip production to support these superfactories.
Nvidia’s Chips Remain Key to Global AI Development
Nvidia’s GPUs (graphics processing units) are essential for building AI systems. These chips are used worldwide—in the United States, Japan, India, the Middle East, and now increasingly in Europe.
Even as countries seek technological independence, they continue to rely on Nvidia’s hardware to achieve their AI goals. This positions Nvidia as a key player, regardless of shifts in data sovereignty.
Power Supply Challenges Ahead
However, building AI infrastructure in Europe will not be easy. One of the major obstacles is the high cost of electricity.
Currently, data centers consume about 3% of all electricity in the EU. As AI adoption grows, this number is expected to rise sharply, increasing pressure on the region’s power grids.
Mistral’s Mission: A Homegrown AI Champion
Mistral has raised more than $1 billion in funding, but its resources are still small compared to the enormous budgets of American hyperscalers—companies that operate massive data centers.
“Hyperscalers spend $10 billion to $15 billion per quarter on infrastructure,” said Pascal Brier, chief innovation officer at Capgemini, which partners with Nvidia and Mistral. “Who in Europe can afford that?”
Brier emphasized that while the investment gap is large, Europe should still move forward with its own initiatives. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything,” he said, “but we have to recognize that there will always be a gap.”
A Hybrid Approach to AI Models
Mistral has released several AI models designed for enterprise use. However, most companies combine its models with those developed by U.S. firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms.
“Most of the time, it’s not ‘Mistral or the rest,’” Brier explained. “It’s ‘Mistral and the rest.’”
Looking Ahead
Europe is starting to act on the idea of sovereign AI, encouraged by leaders like Jensen Huang and motivated by a desire for digital independence. While the region faces challenges—including high costs and infrastructure gaps—its recent moves show a growing commitment to shaping its own AI future.
Nvidia, meanwhile, is positioning itself as the foundation on which sovereign AI systems can be built—ensuring that no matter how independent countries become, they still rely on Nvidia’s technology to get there.
