Could Europe build their own AI infrastructure?

Question

I wonder how Europe is set up for the coming AI race around the world.What would happen if Europe were to be cut off from American supply of GPUs?As far as I know, Europe has control over one company that is involved in the supply chain to build AI hardware: ASML. They build the lithography equipment which is needed to produce the wafers which are needed to produce the processors.Are there companies around the world who can/could build this type of lithography equipment?If Europe loses this piece of control over the AI supply chain, would Europe then be at the mercy of the USA for AI hardware supply? How long would it take for Europe to produce their own GPUs?

aristofun · Accepted Answer

No. There is no Europe as a single entity with its own individual agency. Even if only for that reason - the answer is "no".On top of that European governments got very good at banning and regulating things, not so much at innovating or creating a good climate for innovators and entrepreneurs.

BjoernKW · Answer

In terms of resources currently still available and if they put their will to it: perhaps. It might be an uphill battle, but it could still be possible.
However, given the current environment, it's impossible for this to happen, because the EU (which is largely equivalent with Europe in this context) is obsessed with regulating everything to death instead of creating opportunities for future prosperity.
They're literally doing the exact opposite of what is needed.

belter · Answer

> What would happen if Europe were to be cut off from American supply of GPUs?What would happen if America would be cut off of EU supply of ASML machines?

null_investor · Answer

It doesn't matter.US companies will want to have consumers and Europe has them, so they would like to offer their services in the EU.AI hardware is also produced in China. Americans don't want to talk about it, but Huawei has good inference hardware and software.

shoo · Answer

if you're referring to Nvidia's GPUs - Nvidia doesn't have its own manufacturing capability, they outsource the semiconductor manufacturing to TSMC. Arguably they're better described as Taiwanese GPUs than American GPUs.

jeffreygoesto · Answer

What would happen after the rush is over and the machines rot like old mining gear?

Could Europe build their own AI infrastructure?

No. There is no Europe as a single entity with its own individual agency. Even if only for that reason - the answer is "no".
On top of that European governments got very good at banning and regulating things, not so much at innovating or creating a good climate for innovators and entrepreneurs.

> What would happen if Europe were to be cut off from American supply of GPUs?
What would happen if America would be cut off of EU supply of ASML machines?

It doesn't matter.
US companies will want to have consumers and Europe has them, so they would like to offer their services in the EU.
AI hardware is also produced in China. Americans don't want to talk about it, but Huawei has good inference hardware and software.

if you're referring to Nvidia's GPUs - Nvidia doesn't have its own manufacturing capability, they outsource the semiconductor manufacturing to TSMC. Arguably they're better described as Taiwanese GPUs than American GPUs.

What would happen after the rush is over and the machines rot like old mining gear?