Webinar: What is success in European AI?

FORSEE’s December 2025 webinar explored what it truly means for AI to succeed in Europe – beyond technical performance or economic growth.

Europe is seeking greater AI sovereignty. Yet, a shared understanding of what constitutes AI’s societal success remains elusive. In the webinar, we addressed the question: How can we ensure AI contributes to social sustainability, democracy, and environmental responsibility?

The webinar opened with remarks from Gaspard Demur, Deputy Head of Unit for Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination at the European Commission (DG CNECT), followed by a panel discussion featuring experts from EU institutions, civil society, and the AI industry.

Before the panel conversations, FORSEE researchers presented statements about different aspects of AI to provoke discussion about what success in AI means. You can find a link to the statements below.

Discussion focused on three themes:

• Redefining AI Success: Moving beyond economic efficiency to include social sustainability, inclusivity, and democratic accountability. See the related statement from FORSEE PI Elizabeth Farries here.
• The Environmental Aspect of AI: Addressing AI’s material and ecological impacts and integrating sustainability into AI policy. See the related statement from UCD Assistant Professor Patric Brodie here.
• Who Builds and Deploys AI?: Exploring the role of SMEs and the importance of labour and trade union perspectives in AI policy. See the related statement from DigitalSME Project Manager Loredana Bucseneanu here.
  

Speakers

Opening remarks:

• Gaspard Demur, Deputy Head of Unit for Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination, AI Office of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT)

Panel discussion:

• Martin Ulbrich, Policy Officer, European Commission
• Anja Wyrobek, Parliamentary Advisor, European Parliament
• Diego Naranjo, Digital rights consultant & former Head of Policy at EDRi
• Pedro Lopez, Co-founder of AISYNG

Video commentary:

• Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats