Kathmandu. European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has warned that delays in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) could put Europe’s future “at risk,” urging swift removal of obstacles that are slowing down the continent’s technological progress.
“We can no longer afford to delay removing the barriers that prevent us from embracing this transformation,” Lagarde said at the Bratislava Forum, stressing that ignoring the shift toward AI would be a strategic mistake for Europe.
AI experts and industry supporters argue that Europe has fallen behind the United States and China due to excessive regulation, lack of innovation, and insufficient investment. Lagarde echoed these concerns, saying Europe has already “missed the opportunity to be a first mover” in AI.
However, she noted that the continent can still turn its late start into a competitive advantage—if it decisively integrates AI into key industries.
Lagarde highlighted several hurdles that are slowing AI adoption in Europe, including fragmented regulations and high energy costs, which make operating the massive data centers needed for AI significantly more expensive.
“The cost of further delay is far greater than simply losing the race to develop AI models,” she cautioned. “In the end, we will face deeper competitiveness losses across many of our sectors and industries.”
Her remarks underscore growing concerns that without urgent action, Europe risks being left behind in the global AI revolution.
