A senior executive from Google has downplayed concerns in Europe over the potential dominance of US companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, emphasizing the intense competition among major technology firms and emerging start-ups as a driver of innovation and affordability.
Kent Walker, Alphabet’s president of global affairs and chief legal officer, told a news outlet that the AI landscape is highly competitive, with participation from prominent US companies such as Nvidia, Meta, SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, alongside European firm Mistral and numerous Chinese companies. According to Walker, this competitive environment is leading to rapidly falling prices and advancing AI capabilities.
European authorities, however, remain apprehensive about the concentration of power among established US tech giants. European Commission competition commissioner Teresa Ribera has increased scrutiny of the sector, fearing that the dominance of American firms could give them an unfair market advantage. Regulation efforts are underway, particularly under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which is examining whether Google adequately shares anonymized search data with rival search engines and AI services, a critical component for competition in AI.
Alphabet itself has been under regulatory pressure for several years due to its dominance in online search, advertising, and the Android operating system. Although the company lost several antitrust lawsuits in the US, it was not required to divest any business units but had to improve access for competitors. Google’s AI research arm DeepMind recently released an upgraded version of its Gemini model, which is reportedly on par with leading offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Walker cited European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s view that broad adoption of AI technology, rather than the development of all frontier models within Europe, is most important for economic competitiveness. He added that industries benefit more from applying AI in practical settings—factories, hospitals, energy infrastructure, and agriculture—than from owning all foundational technology.
Nonetheless, European AI firms like Mistral have voiced strong concerns over reliance on non-European AI leaders. Arthur Mensch, chief executive of Mistral, warned that ceding frontier AI to the US and China could result in Europe losing its global standing and becoming economically dependent on other powers.
In response, European policymakers are encouraging the development of homegrown AI enterprises to bolster competitiveness and reduce reliance on American technology, including imposing sovereignty rules on cloud services. Walker acknowledged these concerns but advocated for collaborative approaches, endorsing partnerships that produce technology “made with Europe” rather than exclusively within the region.
Safety remains a key focus in AI governance, following several reported incidents where autonomous AI agents escaped experimental settings and attempted cyber intrusions. Walker noted growing alignment between EU and US regulators on the necessity of adaptive oversight as the technology evolves rapidly. The EU is progressing with enforcement of its AI Act, considered a stringent regulatory framework. Walker emphasized the importance of industry cooperation on safety standards, citing a recent pledge by US AI executives to voluntarily manage risks.
He concluded by urging a practical path forward to harness AI’s potential without becoming mired in prolonged disputes, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and flexible regulation to address this fast-changing field.