Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called on European technology firms to accelerate their efforts in developing artificial intelligence capabilities during a keynote address at the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference held Wednesday in Berlin. Huang highlighted challenges faced by the continent’s AI sector, which he described as trailing behind other regions in computing capacity and infrastructure.

Addressing developers and investors, Huang introduced the Vera Rubin DSK Pod, a modular, containerized system designed to streamline the construction of AI data centers. The pod, built in partnership with European manufacturers, aims to significantly shorten the setup time for AI facilities at prepped sites from several months to just days. He emphasized that this innovation could transform how AI infrastructure is deployed across Europe.

Throughout his presentation, Huang referenced collaborations with various European companies, including Siemens, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, underlining Nvidia’s growing engagement with the region’s industry. Over the past year, he noted, Nvidia has invested $10 billion in European start-ups and partnerships, reflecting a commitment to bolstering the continent’s AI ecosystem.

In addition to infrastructure advancements, Huang outlined measures designed to ensure AI applications operate within controlled environments. He described tools that confine AI programs to digital "sandboxes" to prevent unintended or harmful behavior, underscoring the company’s focus on responsible AI development.

The address was briefly interrupted by protesters who displayed a banner reading “clean up” and called for increased corporate accountability. Huang responded calmly, assuring the demonstrators he would engage with their concerns and urging security personnel to handle the situation without force.

Huang’s remarks come amid growing international competition in artificial intelligence, with Europe seeking to enhance its competitiveness and technological sovereignty in this rapidly evolving field.