OpenAI is urging European policymakers to rethink and simplify AI regulations to ensure the region remains competitive in the global artificial intelligence race. In its newly published “EU Economic Blueprint,” OpenAI highlights that current regulatory frameworks may unintentionally slow AI growth in Europe, risking the region’s future as an innovation leader.
OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, stressed that a fresh approach is necessary to balance responsible oversight with the flexibility required for growth. The company echoed former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s warning that excessive regulation is becoming “a drag on European competitiveness.”
The European Union recently introduced the AI Act — the world’s most comprehensive framework for artificial intelligence — but also launched its “AI Continent Action Plan,” aiming to strengthen the EU’s global AI footprint by improving infrastructure, talent, and algorithm development.
However, OpenAI’s report argues these initiatives must work together, not at odds, to create a “flywheel for AI growth” rather than allowing conflicting strategies to undercut each other.
The company’s proposed EU Economic blueprint outlines four key pillars: increasing computing power, improving access to AI-ready data, enhancing AI literacy among European citizens, and promoting responsible AI aligned with European values. Specific suggestions include training 100 million Europeans in AI fundamentals by 2030, creating tax incentives for AI investment, and streamlining EU rules for faster adoption.
Critics, including former European Parliament member Marietje Schaake, warn that easing regulations too much could empower U.S. tech giants at the expense of European startups. Instead, they advocate for strong competition laws and enforcement to create space for local innovators.
Still, OpenAI emphasizes the urgency of decisive action. Without it, the company warns, Europe could lose out on AI investments to other regions with fewer regulatory barriers — possibly under governments with values misaligned with those of European democracies.
The future of AI in Europe, OpenAI argues, will depend on a regulatory framework that fosters innovation while ensuring ethical standards are maintained.
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