tech
Von der Leyen's AI envoy pick draws conflict-of-interest fire
The European Commission has appointed Jim Hagemann Snabe, chairman of Siemens’ supervisory board, as its special envoy for industrial artificial intelligence. He will advise Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and tech sovereignty chief Henna Virkkunen on how to accelerate AI adoption across European industry.
TL;DR
- Jim Hagemann Snabe, chairman of Siemens’ supervisory board, appointed as EU special envoy for industrial AI.
- Critics allege conflict of interest as Snabe previously lobbied for rollback of the EU's AI Act.
- The EU AI Act was recently simplified, including a delay for high-risk AI obligations and an exemption for industrial AI.
- Germany, led by Siemens, pushed for the industrial AI exemption.
- Snabe will suspend his Google Cloud and C3.ai board memberships during his unpaid mandate until March 2027.
- Concerns remain about Snabe's ties to Big Tech and the enterprise AI market.
- The Commission states a conflict-of-interest assessment was conducted, but details are not public.
- Snabe's role aims to boost industrial AI adoption, balancing regulatory ambitions with corporate reality.