Pausing or stopping artificial intelligence development is virtually impossible due to globally decentralized decision-making hubs, according to Rui Gonçalves, Head of Technology Consulting at KPMG Portugal and global AI council member. Speaking in an interview with Lusa, he argued that rather than attempting an unfeasible shutdown, the focus must shift toward balancing effective risk management with reducing tech dependency.
Key Insights and Technological Asymmetries
Geographic Concentration
Major AI decision-making centers remain concentrated outside Europe, predominantly located in US hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, or Chinese centers like Yangzhou.
Heavy European Dependency
Europe currently relies heavily on foreign technology, importing over 80% of its digital tools. Furthermore, roughly 70% of foundational AI models originate in the US and up to 29% in China, leaving Europe with just around 1% of native model creation.
The Risk of Unilateral Brakes
Enforcing strict, unregulated halts in specific jurisdictions like Europe or Portugal will only increase long-term dependency. Unilateral restrictions create technological asymmetries, as non-compliant global competitors will continue building unchecked.
Balanced Governance
Policy efforts should aim for responsible acceleration—establishing governance and risk management safeguards without stifling local capacity to build.
Ecosystem Directory
Explore established tech hubs and service providers in the companies section, or locate flexible workspaces for engineering teams in the coworking directory.
Related News