Europe’s ambitions in artificial intelligence risk being stifled by excessive regulation, Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung cautioned on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to limit regulatory overreach to prevent falling behind global competitors.
Speaking at a Stuttgart technology conference hosted by Bosch, Hartung said that Europe’s complex bureaucracy and what he described as both strict and ambiguous requirements are making Europe less attractive for AI innovation compared to other regions.
Bosch, which holds the largest portfolio of AI patents in Europe, is planning an additional EUR 2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) investment in AI research and development by 2027. The German industrial giant is focusing its efforts on applications ranging from autonomous driving technologies to smarter, more efficient industrial systems.
Hartung called on European policymakers to confine regulation to a framework that addresses only the most critical issues. He warned that lawmakers should not try to regulate technological progress.
His comments come as the global race to advance AI technology accelerates. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an unprecedented $500 billion private sector push for AI infrastructure. The EU soon followed with its own plan to mobilize up to €200 billion for the sector.
