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Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

2 records

Portrait source: European People's Party, CC BY 2.0

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And it is moving faster than even its developers anticipated. So we have a narrowing window of opportunity to guide this technology responsibly.

Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

In the official text of her 2023 State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen said AI was moving faster than its developers anticipated and the window to guide it responsibly was narrowing.

President of the European CommissionSeptember 13, 20232023 State of the Union Address, Strasbourg

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Surrounding words

AI is a general technology that is accessible, powerful and adaptable for a vast range of uses - both civilian and military. And it is moving faster than even its developers anticipated. So we have a narrowing window of opportunity to guide this technology responsibly.. I believe Europe, together with partners, should lead the way on a new global framework for AI, built on three pillars: guardrails, governance and guiding innovation . Firstly, guardrails .

What this quote does not say

  • The official European Commission speech is marked "Check Against Delivery"; it certifies the issued speech text but is not an independent transcript of the delivered wording.
  • Earlier in the same AI section, von der Leyen said AI would improve healthcare, boost productivity, and address climate change, framing the technology as beneficial as well as threatening.

How this was checked

  • Quote located in the captured page; spacing normalised for display.

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an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check

We want AI to be a force for good and for growth.

Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

In a 2025 European Commission press release, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU wants AI to be a force for good and for growth.

President of the European CommissionPublished February 11, 2025 · date of remarks not establishedEuropean Commission press release

Context and checks

Surrounding words

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “AI will improve our healthcare, spur our research and innovation and boost our competitiveness. We want AI to be a force for good and for growth. We are doing this through our own European approach – based on openness, cooperation and excellent talent. But our approach still needs to be supercharged.

What this quote does not say

  • The press release presents the statement as a rationale for AI investment; it does not say that safeguards or governance are unnecessary.

How this was checked

  • Quote matched character-for-character against the captured page.

Reviewed by

an AI reviewer that read the whole source · an automatic character-by-character check