Keynote: AI in the EU

Event Overview

The European Commission launched its AI Continent Action Plan, signaling a commitment to a more proactive role in the global AI ecosystem.

Join Cornell’s Lutz Finger and Lucilla Sioli, Director of the European Commission’s AI Office, as they explore the EU’s bold and optimistic vision of becoming the “AI Continent.”

From cutting-edge AI factories and gigafactories to trusted data spaces and talent development, this Keynote highlights how Europe is building a uniquely powerful AI ecosystem rooted in collaboration, excellence, and democratic values.

What You'll Learn

What it means for Europe to become the “AI Continent”
How AI factories and gigafactories will supercharge European innovation
Why data is the next battleground — and how the EU plans to win it
Where Europe will apply AI first and who stands to benefit
How Europe is building an AI talent pipeline from the ground up

Speakers

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Lucilla Sioli

Director of the EU AI Office

Directorate-General CONNECT at the European Commission

Lucilla Sioli is the Director of the EU AI Office within Directorate-General CONNECT at the European Commission. Ms. Sioli is responsible for the coordination of the European AI strategy, including the implementation of the AI Act and international collaboration in trustworthy AI and AI for good. The Directorate is also responsible for R&D&I activities in AI and for the implementation of the AI Innovation Package.

Ms. Sioli holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Southampton (UK) and one from the Catholic University of Milan (Italy). She has been a civil servant with the European Commission since 1997.

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Lutz Finger

Visiting Senior Lecturer

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Visiting Senior Lecturer, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Lutz Finger is a Silicon Valley technologist and Cornell faculty member with 20+ years of experience building AI-driven products and platforms at Google, LinkedIn, and Snap. He is a serial entrepreneur (R2Decide, acquired in 2025; Fisheye Analytics, acquired in 2013) and currently leads AI strategy at XGEN AI, developing next-generation generative retail solutions.

Finger teaches several courses on AI and product development. His eCornell certificate program provides an end-to-end guide to using AI to create measurable business value, and has helped executives worldwide move from AI ideas to real implementations:

Finger is also a frequent Forbes contributor on AI and the future of commerce. He is a Venture Partner at Cherry Ventures, serves on multiple advisory boards, and has advised and invested in data-centric companies across the United States and Europe. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and an M.S. in Quantum Physics from TU Berlin.

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