The EU moves the deadline for its AI hubs plan again

The EU plan is to make seven AI hubs with large data centers in different countries. Groups of partners must tell the EU that they want to make them.

At the end of October, an EU department gave more time to the groups that want to make the seven AI hubs. The hubs are in a €30 billion plan. This is the second time in a row. The first deadline in November moved to February. The department tells that member states must have time for national budgets and money pledges.

What changed

The department gave this cause: member states must have time to finish their national budget work and send money pledges. The hubs include large AI data centers.

The proof

The source gives one fact on the date: the first deadline was in November and moved to February. It gives no new date. It gives no test of the plan.

What others say

Jan Kavalírek was the Czech AI envoy for a short time last year. Kavalírek is part of the Czech bid. Kavalírek wrote on LinkedIn that some paperwork was not sent on time. Kavalírek told POLITICO that member states must keep the deadlines.

Insight: EU hub money is slower than EU rule debate

In October, EU lawmakers disagreed on AI liability rules. The center-right wants easy rules to help European companies. But the hubs that these companies use wait for national budgets. This reads as two different speeds: rules in Brussels, money in national capitals. Member states set the speed. Look if the next deadline moves again.