Dutch Tech Leaders: Europe Can Dominate AI Apps, Not Hardware
▼ Summary
– Europe lags behind the US in AI infrastructure but can lead in AI applications, according to Dutch tech leaders at TNW Conference.
– Jeroen van Glabbeek of CM.com argues Europe should focus on building AI apps using existing US infrastructure.
– US tech giants plan to invest over $300bn in AI infrastructure in 2025, a scale Europe cannot match.
– Europe has a history of successful apps like Spotify and Revolut, which could inspire new AI-driven innovations.
– Tech leaders urge financial reforms and innovation-friendly regulation to boost Europe’s AI potential.
Europe may not lead in AI hardware, but Dutch tech leaders believe the continent can dominate the application layer, leveraging existing infrastructure built by US giants. At a recent high-level discussion in Amsterdam, industry experts outlined why focusing on software rather than competing in hardware could be Europe’s smartest move in the global AI race.
Jeroen van Glabbeek, CEO of customer engagement platform CM.com, emphasized that while American tech firms invest billions in data centers and cloud infrastructure, European companies should concentrate on developing cutting-edge AI applications. With US corporations like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft pouring over $300 billion into AI infrastructure this year alone, attempting to match that scale would be unrealistic for most European players. Instead, Van Glabbeek sees an opportunity to build on top of these existing platforms.
Europe has a proven track record of creating world-class software, from music streaming giant Spotify to fintech leaders like Revolut and Klarna.None Van Glabbeek predicts a new generation of AI-powered applications emerging from the region, capitalizing on specialized use cases rather than trying to compete in foundational AI models.
Other industry voices reinforced this perspective. Sohrab Hosseini, co-founder of Amsterdam-based Orq.ai, pointed to the untapped potential in AI orchestration and application development, where European startups can carve out niches. Lucien Burm of the Dutch Startup Association added that the real profitability lies in the application layer, not in the expensive hardware race dominated by US and Asian firms.
To unlock this potential, speakers highlighted key challenges: European investors need to embrace higher risk tolerance, governments should streamline funding processes, and procurement policies must favor local innovation. Above all, they stressed the need for balanced, innovation-friendly regulations—a recurring theme in Europe’s tech policy debates.
The consensus was clear: Europe won’t outspend Silicon Valley on AI infrastructure, but by focusing on specialized applications, it can still shape the future of AI adoption worldwide.
(Source: The Next Web)
