OpenAI and Allied for Startups Release Hacktivate AI Report

OpenAI and Allied for Startups have released the Hacktivate AI report, a collection of 20 policy ideas designed to accelerate broad-based AI adoption and boost competitiveness within the European Union. This initiative arrives as the European Commission prepares to unveil its Apply AI Strategy to encourage AI integration across the public sector and business.

Policy Proposals for AI Acceleration

The Hacktivate AI report compiles 20 actionable ideas developed during a policy hackathon in Brussels. The hackathon brought together 65 participants, including AI specialists, economists, representatives from EU institutions, national governments, SMEs, and large enterprises.

Key proposals from the report include:

  • Individual AI Learning Accounts (Proposal 1): Designed to empower individuals on their professional journeys through targeted AI skill development.
  • AI Champions Network (Proposal 3): An initiative to encourage AI adoption specifically among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • European GovAI Hub (Proposal 12): The creation of shared resources to assist the public sector in implementing AI.
  • Relentless Harmonisation (Proposal 15): A call for the simplification of regulations to advance the Digital Single Market.

Current State of AI Adoption in Europe

EU Member States are among OpenAI's top global markets for business customers, API developers, and subscribers. Current usage patterns show that while adoption is accelerating, it remains uneven across different sectors.

According to OpenAI research on ChatGPT usage at work, IT and finance lead AI adoption, followed by manufacturing. Other industries continue to lag behind, highlighting a necessity for targeted interventions to help all sectors of the economy integrate AI into daily workflows.

Strategic Partnerships and Educational Initiatives

OpenAI is implementing several initiatives to support the European ecosystem through educational resources and government partnerships:

  • OpenAI Academy: This program has provided free AI learning resources to over 2 million people.
  • Government Collaborations: OpenAI is working with governments in countries such as Germany and Greece to increase AI adoption in education and the public sector.
  • Industry Integration: OpenAI tools are being used by European companies, including Sanofi for medical treatment development and AI-fueled startups like Parloa and Pigment.

Context and Policy Alignment

The Hacktivate AI report aligns with OpenAI's previous efforts in Europe, including the EU Economic Blueprint and the endorsement of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice.

Martin Signoux, EU AI Policy Lead at OpenAI, emphasized the goal of closing the gap between the bloc's AI ambition and reality:

"Hacktivate AI brought together the energy of Europe’s leading businesses, civil society, and public institutions with the goal to close the gap between the bloc’s AI ambition and reality. It’s clear that achieving broad-based adoption will require meaningful interventions that help Europe’s businesses and organisations put AI to work in all walks of life."

This urgency for increased adoption is echoed by Mario Draghi in the first anniversary of his report on European competitiveness.

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