The EU is pushing forward with its plans to become the “AI continent” with a fresh call for tenders to set up seven AI Gigafactories across the bloc. The initiative is expected to help the EU develop advanced AI on its own infrastructure in line with the bloc’s rules and standards around model safety. Selected AI Gigafactories are expected to begin operations within 18 months after the consortia makes a successful bid. “The opening of the AI Gigafactories call represents a milestone in our AI Continent ambitions. Access to the raw scale of computing power within AI Gigafactories is a strategic necessity for Europe as AI development accelerates,” said EU executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy Henna Virkkunen.