Germany's AI task force: 18 months to catch the US and China
Berlin's AI task force says Germany is falling behind the US and China and has 12–18 months to catch up. Its 2030 goal: AI in 80% of big firms.
Germany's government AI task force has a blunt message: the country is falling further behind the US and China, even though its research is strong. Its final report came out at the Digital Summit in Berlin on 2 November. It says "the window of opportunity to reduce this gap is closing soon", and Berlin puts the deciding stretch at the next 12 to 18 months.
The goal is to make Germany an "AI nation" by 2030. The numbers behind it:
- 80% of large companies and 55% of SMEs using AI
- 3x as many AI startups
- AI behind more than 10% of economic output
- 90% of federal agencies running at least one AI tool for core tasks
The plan also backs alternatives to the big foundation models, working with France and Canada. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants Germany to be a leader, not a follower. Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger rejected Elon Musk's idea of a future where work is "optional". Family Minister Karin Prien went further and said that if AI creates the value, AI should be taxed.
Why it matters: Europe's biggest economy is admitting it's behind and setting itself a short deadline, so watch whether the money follows.
Sources
Independent coverage
- Federal Government: Germany is to become an AI nation by 2030 logistik-heute.de
- KI: Merz fordert mehr Tempo bei Nutzung digitaler Technologien zdfheute.de
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