Shaping Europe: From unsolvable complexity to shared visions
What links Trump’s dazzling “Stargate” promise, Europe’s invisibility in Davos and Elon Musk’s disturbing statements at an AfD event?
A common theme: responsibility.
Responsibility: Our solid foundation for innovation, history and our future
Responsibility for innovation, for our history and for the future of our society.
Outlook: In this article, I highlight:
- Why Europe’s opportunities in AI development are greater than they appear,
- Why the “Apollo spirit” teaches us an important lesson,
- And how we can reconcile dealing with our history and shaping our future.
Listen on Spotify: Spotify Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WvyCNB
Enjoy on Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3E9wKDJ
AI & Us – Stargate, Apollo, Elon Musk and the battle for the future – Why innovation without ethics becomes a danger.
Between show and substance: What Stargate really means – and what Europe can learn from it
Unmissable: Donald Trump ‘s transition of power in the USA is on everyone’s mind. The numerous LinkedIn posts and comments on Stargate reflect these reactions – but what is really behind this turmoil and why does it move us so much?
When I heard about the new US president’s announcement – an AI project worth half a trillion dollars (!) – I asked myself: What’s really new here? And above all: How do we in Europe react to this?
If it is now claimed that all of this would only be possible because of Trump, this fails to recognize that it is above all the way in which it is implemented that has shifted towards a highly risky and uncertain approach.
More show than substance:
What we see is more show than substance:
- Financing is uncertain.
- No state funding.
- The project primarily serves the interests of OpenAI.
Stargate may be staged as a visionary large-scale project, but the real challenge lies not in the show, but in the substance.
What we don’t need is a rash, knee-jerk reaction that only serves the purpose of quick competition.
Instead, we as Europe need to develop a clear, sustainable strategy – one that strengthens our values, our economy and our society in the long term. Because when the hype surrounding projects like Stargate dies down, we should not fall back into passivity, but actively drive our own path forward.
Our starting position in Europe: challenges and potential
Where we are currently lagging behind:
➡️ Reducing bureaucracy
Europe’s innovation potential is hampered by cumbersome bureaucratic processes that not only slow down funding programs, but also unnecessarily slow down companies and start-ups in the technology sector. More efficient approval procedures and less regulation could significantly accelerate innovation.
➡️ Lack of computing capacity
In a global comparison, we do not have the powerful data centers that are required for large-scale AI models such as GPT or complex simulations. The USA and China dominate here with their investment power and infrastructure.
➡️ No sustainable investment model for research and innovation
Europe’s outstanding research often fails to find its way into practice. In Europe, we have so far failed to create a fair and sustainable model that not only enables state-funded innovation, but also allows taxpayers to share in its success. Patents are often exploited by the private sector without the public sector – and therefore society – benefiting from the profits. An approach that links state funding to fair profit-sharing could drive innovation in a targeted manner and at the same time ensure a fair distribution of profits.
➡️ No three-digit billion budgets for AI
In contrast to the USA and China, Europe lacks large sums of investment. But do we really always need billions for long-term and ambitious AI projects? Our funding models are fragmented and we lack a coordinated European initiative for massive AI funding.
Europe is not pursuing an approach based purely on “money rules”, as we see in the USA and China. Instead, we need sustainable and fair financing models that enable long-term innovation.
If the taxpayer helps to finance it, the assets generated should also benefit society. Our current funding model is fragmented and characterized by short-term thinking. There is a lack of a coordinated European initiative that combines massive AI funding with a sustainable feedback mechanism – for a fair distribution of profits and technological progress.
Where our opportunities lie for Germany in Europe:
Top universities and trustworthy federated data landscapes
Europe has some of the best universities and research institutions in the world. Our strength lies not in industrial data monopolies, but in the creation of trusting, federated data landscapes.
These make it possible to use data in accordance with consent and data sovereignty on a voluntary basis and with the consent of the user.
It is precisely this sovereign approach that not only strengthens data protection, but also creates the basis for ethically responsible and competitive AI solutions that do justice to European values.
Strong position in quantum computing
With major initiatives such as the Hamburg Quantum Innovation Lab and leading quantum computing centers in Germany, such as Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Fraunhofer Institute, Europe is already a major player in quantum research. Programs such as Quantum Delta NLfrom the Netherlands complement these efforts at European level.
The further development of these technologies not only offers revolutionary security solutions, but also strengthens our technological independence and innovative power.
Open source could become Europe’s mission in bits & bytes
Open source offers Europe the opportunity to take a leading role not only in AI development, but in the entire digital landscape.
With transparent, collaborative and community-oriented approaches, we could create an alternative to proprietary technologies dominated by BigTechs. Open source enables innovation in line with European values such as data protection, sustainability and social justice.
It is not only a tool to promote technological independence, but also a platform that connects developers, companies and society as a whole.
Focus on ethical innovations
Europe has a long tradition of combining technological developments with values such as data protection, fairness and sustainability.
These principles should become a global competitive advantage in our favor by creating trust and promoting sustainable solutions.
This approach will become a global competitive advantage, especially in our energy transition, if we stick to it!
Technologies such as smart grids, renewable energies and energy efficiency solutions offer the opportunity to create trust and at the same time provide sustainable answers to climate change.
Through ethical innovation , we can not only revolutionize our energy supply, but also be a role model for other regions of the world.
The Apollo spirit and the role of visions
The Apollo missions and the ISS show what is possible when great visions transcend national interests. Both mega-projects were symbols of cooperation and progress – values that we too often lack today.
“How can we revive this “Apollo spirit” to put innovation at the service of humanity?”
While Apollo turned the Cold War competition into a peaceful race, the ISS brought together nations that were once rivals – an impressive example of how technological projects can also bridge political divides.
But we often seem to lack these values today. Many projects are driven by short-term economic interests, geopolitical power games or personal ambition. The focus is on competition rather than cooperation, on national dominance rather than global progress.
How can we revive the “Apollo spirit”? It starts with the question of what visions inspire us today. Instead of just driving technological innovation for its own sake, we need to put innovation back at the service of humanity. This means:
- Define common goals: Promote international cooperation to tackle global challenges such as climate change, energy crises and pandemics.
- Creating inspiration: Shaping technological projects as symbols of hope and progress that connect and inspire people worldwide.
- Taking long-term responsibility: Innovations must not only be economically sustainable, but also bear social and ecological responsibility.
The “Apollo spirit” reminds us that great visions can advance not only technology, but humanity as a whole. If we revive this spirit, we can create a future that is not only progressive, but also worth living – for all of us.
In my latest episode of Rock the Prototype, I talk about how projects like “Stargate” or Elon Musk’s visions influence our future – and what role ethical principles have to play in this.
Topics that await you in my podcast episode:
What we can learn from the “Apollo spirit” and international cooperation
⚙️ Why innovation without ethics does more harm than good in the long term
How Starlink and AI are connecting our world – and what dangers lurk
What kind of innovation should we promote: short-term gains or sustainable progress?
At a time when technology is concentrating more and more power, it is more important than ever to actively question and help shape it. Listen in now and be inspired:
Listen on Spotify: Spotify Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WvyCNB
Enjoy on Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3E9wKDJ
Quantum computing: Europe’s chance in the race for the future
While Stargate is now sparking discussions on a global level and AI remains highly relevant, there is another area where Europe can actually take a leading role: Quantum computing.
This technology, which will revolutionize our understanding of data processing and cyber security, gives us a unique opportunity to not only keep up, but to lead the way.
Back in April 2024, I pointed out the immense relevance of quantum computing – especially in the context of cyber security and cryptography .
Long before that, I had already highlighted the connections in detail in my book and emphasized the importance of this approach.
Source: Large-Scale Agile Frameworks – Agile frameworks, agile infrastructure and pragmatic solutions for digital transformation – Sascha Block
It is precisely this responsible vision that represents a real opportunity for Europe. While the digital transformation still presents us with a number of challenges, we in Europe have long been in the process of developing the next generation of technology: Quantum computing.
Switch to quantum-safe encryption
In view of these threats, the rapid implementation of quantum-safe cryptography methods is essential. Quantum-safe or post-quantum cryptography includes algorithms that should remain secure even in the era of quantum computers.
Crypto agility enables organizations to seamlessly transition from existing cryptographic methods to quantum-safe alternatives as they become available and necessary.
Responsibility, history and future
Elon Musk has caused a stir with his recent statements at an AfD event. His words that “we should go beyond” call into question Germany’s ongoing responsibility for the crimes of the Second World War. But this responsibility is not a burden that we can cast off – it is an obligation that reminds us to protect and preserve our values.
We in Germany bear a special responsibility for the crimes of the Holocaust.
This responsibility is not temporary, but a foundation on which our democracy, our legal system and our culture of remembrance are built. This obligation is all the more important at a time when populist forces are trying to reinterpret history.
Without this responsibility, we run the risk of losing our moral compass and our foundation as a society.
Democratic participation – How we can strengthen our democracy
Vision: Shaping Europe
The demands placed on our digital administration are solvable – if we focus on the essentials. Instead of overburdening the supervisory authorities with the almost unsolvable task of monitoring an exploding variety of applications and solutions in the federal government, sixteen federal states and countless authorities, we should reduce the complexity.
A manageable and centralized digital infrastructure not only offers efficiency gains, but also the opportunity to validate conformity with legal requirements more easily and consistently. This makes the task for supervisory authorities not only solvable, but also strategically feasible.
The vision: trust, innovation and democratic participation A trustworthy digital infrastructure is not a utopian idea, but a well-founded and justified necessity. It forms the basis for democratic participation and connects people:
- Trustworthy digital services: The needs of users are consistently taken into account.
- Promoting innovation: A clear framework creates space for creative, forward-looking solutions.
- Sustainable progress: Transparency and conformity strengthen trust in public and private digital offerings.
By creating an environment that meets our democratic demands and at the same time offers room for technological innovation, we are freeing ourselves from the overwhelming complexity and excessive bureaucracy. We enable real progress – for society, the economy andevery individual.
Digital infrastructures and digital mechanisms for democratic participation
This means that we need to create digital infrastructures and digital mechanisms that enable people to participate directly and help shape decisions.
Only through such an inclusive and participatory approach can we strengthen our democracy and ensure that it reflects the needs and wishes of all citizens.
- Using open source and quantum computing strategically,
- Creating a strong link between research, industry and society.
“Europe is not held together by power, but by the common pursuit of justice and progress.” – Jean Monnet
Robust digital infrastructure to involve citizens in decision-making processes and share information transparently in real time
A robust digital infrastructure makes it possible to involve citizens in decision-making processes, share information transparently and proactively promote dialog between government and society.
Our democratic aspirations require an effective digital mechanism for participation.
The digital infrastructure for our digital participation must be as secure and reliable as possible.
The range of functions is clear and at the same time reduced to the essential functions and user-centered in terms of handling, i.e. usability.
In order to satisfy the right to informal self-determination , analog replacement procedures must supplement the digital route, but must be designed in such a way that – as in our democratic elections – analog information is processed digitally.
We in Europe stand for freedom, democracy and progress.
These values are not only a foundation, but also our opportunity to shape the world sustainably.
“The greatest challenge is not to develop new ideas, but to get rid of the old ones.” – John Maynard Keynes
I look forward to your thoughts and perspectives in the comments!
I invite you to share your perspectives and experiences – let’s work together to create a digital infrastructure that is efficient, sustainable and secure.
#gemeinsam
Let’s shape the future digitally and transparently
Are you curious about how this can work? Then stay tuned!
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About the Author:
Sascha Block
I am Sascha Block – IT architect in Hamburg and the initiator of Rock the Prototype. I want to make prototyping learnable and experiential. With the motivation to prototype ideas and share knowledge around software prototyping, software architecture and programming, I created the format and the open source initiative Rock the Prototype.
