Germany must move faster in artificial intelligence to capture its economic potential, Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger said ahead of the government’s Digital Summit in Berlin. Speaking to ARD, the Christian Democrat pointed to AI’s potential to generate value, growth and jobs, arguing that Germany already has the necessary capabilities but must now scale up its efforts.
Wildberger also called for greater room for innovation in regulation. Addressing Germany’s dependence on US technology companies, he said the key concept was sovereignty, which he defined first as having a choice between providers. He added that Germany should continue to operate in a world built on partnerships rather than seeking isolation.
Government representatives, experts and technology executives from several countries are meeting in Berlin to discuss the opportunities, risks and effects of AI. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to speak at the summit and attend discussions with business representatives and a press conference with Wildberger.
A report by the government-appointed AI task force warns that Germany’s window to reduce its distance from leading AI locations in the United States and China is closing. The task force says the next 12 to 18 months will be critical for setting the country’s course.
The Ifo Institute identifies several obstacles, including a high-tech sector that remains too small, insufficient digitization in public administration and an education system that is not adapting quickly enough to AI-related changes. The institute says Germany risks falling further behind despite its strong starting position in research.
The task force’s goals for 2030 include having AI used by at least 80 percent of large companies and 55 percent of small and medium-sized businesses. It also calls for tripling the number of AI startups, raising the share of economic output generated with AI to more than 10 percent and ensuring that 90 percent of federal agencies use at least one AI application for core tasks.
The plans also seek to strengthen alternatives to the largest AI models, including through closer cooperation with countries such as France and Canada. The task force, established during the summer by the government’s National Security Council and led by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs, aims to make Germany an “AI nation” by 2030. Its report argues that countries that fail to build technological foundations, talent, infrastructure and applications in time will become dependent on decisions made elsewhere.
Sources: FAZ.