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Key Quotes from EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen’s AI Speech at Paris Summit

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the EU’s ambitious vision for artificial intelligence (AI) during her speech at the Paris AI Summit. Below are some of the key quotes from her address:

  1. “This summit is on action, and that is exactly what we need right now. The time has come for us to formulate a vision of where we want AI to take us as a society and as humanity, and then we need to act and accelerate Europe in getting there.”

  2. “We want Europe to be one of the leading AI continents, and this means embracing a way of life where AI is everywhere.”

  3. “Too often I hear that Europe is late to the race where the United States or China have already gotten ahead. I disagree, because the AI race is far from being over. We’re only at the beginning. The frontier is constantly moving. Global leadership is still up for grabs.”

  4. “Too often I have heard that we should replicate what others are doing and run after their strengths. I think that instead, we should invest in what we can do best and build our own strengths here in Europe. Our own strengths are our science and technology mastery that we have given to the world … There’s a distinct European brand of AI. It is already driving innovation and adaptation, and it is picking up speed.”

  5. “We want to accelerate innovation. Europe has some of the world’s fastest public supercomputers. We are now putting them at the service of our best startups and our best scientists, so they can forge the AI we need. They can test their models, they can train their models on our supercomputers.”

  6. “We want to replicate the success story of CERN in Geneva. As you all know, CERN holds the largest particle accelerator in the world, and it allows the best and the brightest minds in the world to work together. And we want the same to happen in our AI Gigafactory.”

  7. “AI needs competition, but AI also needs collaboration, and AI needs the confidence of the people, and has to be safe.”

  8. “I know that we have to make it easier, and we have to cut red tape, and we will.”

  9. “We aim to mobilize a total of 200 billion euros ($206.38 billion) for AI investment in Europe.”

  10. “AI can be a gift to humanity, but we must make sure that its benefits are widespread and that its benefits are accessible to all.”

  11. “We want AI to be a force for good. We want an AI where everyone collaborates and everyone benefits. This is our path. This is our European path.”

Salesforce to Invest $500 Million in AI Ventures in Saudi Arabia

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Salesforce announced on Monday that it plans to invest $500 million in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the country’s competitive push to attract critical tech investments. The investment will be a key part of Salesforce’s efforts to introduce its Hyperforce platform architecture in the region, leveraging a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The announcement comes amid a global surge in AI investments, as countries ramp up efforts to become leaders in the fast-growing technology. This trend follows a shift in regulatory approaches, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump overturned an executive order that sought to impose restrictions on AI advancements.

In addition to launching Hyperforce, Salesforce will collaborate with major global firms such as Capgemini, Deloitte, Globant, IBM, and PwC to expand the use of its AI product, Agentforce, which is designed for customer service agents. Another key aspect of the plan includes offering Arabic language support for Salesforce’s AI product suite, aiming to make the technology more accessible to local businesses.

Salesforce made this announcement at Saudi Arabia’s global tech event, LEAP 2025, where the country secured $14.9 billion in AI investments. Earlier in the month, Salesforce also revealed plans to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh and to upskill 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030, further cementing its commitment to fostering AI growth in the region.

Workday Announces Layoffs of 1,750 Jobs Amid AI Investment Push

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Workday, a leading human capital management company, has announced plans to cut approximately 1,750 jobs, or 8.5% of its workforce, in an effort to allocate resources toward artificial intelligence (AI) development. This move is part of Workday’s strategy to adapt to a challenging macroeconomic environment, with high interest rates impacting tech budgets.

The news triggered a 4% jump in the company’s shares during premarket trading. CEO Carl Eschenbach emphasized that these layoffs are a necessary step to focus on AI investments and expand Workday’s global presence.

The human capital management industry is currently dealing with slower spending from enterprise clients, further complicating the business landscape. Workday expects to incur between $230 million and $270 million in charges due to the layoffs, with $60 million to $70 million recognized in the fourth quarter. As of January 31, the company employed roughly 18,800 people.

The company is facing increased competition as the industry consolidates. Recently, Paychex announced its acquisition of Paycor for $4.1 billion, and ADP purchased WorkForce Software for $1.2 billion.

Despite the layoffs, Workday is optimistic about its financial performance. The company expects its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results to meet or exceed previous forecasts, with subscription revenue expected to reach $7.70 billion for the year and $2.03 billion for the fourth quarter, aligning with analyst predictions. Workday also plans to close certain office spaces as part of its cost-reduction measures, with the initiatives expected to be completed by the second quarter of fiscal 2026.