Europe 2031: What getting AI wrong means for us
Europe has five years to get AI right or lose the ability to shape its own future.
On Tuesday, June 23rd, we're hosting Alex Petropoulos (Arq Foundation), one of the authors of Europe 2031 to walk us through their scenario for where the continent is headed on AI, and what can still change course.
Europe 2031 is a five-year scenario developed by a team of researchers and technologists. It argues that Europe is misreading AI's speed, underestimating its impact, and responding at a tenth of the scale needed. The current trajectory ends with Europe economically sidelined, politically weakened, and dependent on whoever happens to be in the White House.
This is a talk about that scenario: how we got here, what comes next, and what Europe can still do.
What will be covered
Why Europe's current AI response is too small and aimed at the wrong target
The five-year scenario: from DeepSeek's false lessons to a US ultimatum over ASML
What real leverage looks like and the uncomfortable trade-offs it requires
Concrete recommendations for changing course
Speaker profile
Alex is the Chief of Staff of Arq Foundation. His research interests are in metascience, d/acc, compute abundance, and institutional design. Alex works closely with the Brussels institutional landscape and the wider European progress ecosystem.
Previously, at the Centre for Future Generations, Alex co-authored a CERN for AI blueprint, an AISI Network analysis, and research on open-weight models governance. He also led an ARIA-funded research project on AI-enabled governance mechanisms for AI R&D organisations. Alex also has experience in radio and television, appearing as an AI/political commentator for outlets including Sky News, BBC5 and Times Radio.
Who should attend?
Anyone who wants to understand Europe's strategic position in the AI race. No technical background needed.