Takeaways from the latest webinar on autonomous mobility and transport

During our latest conversation on AI in EU industry, two European Commission officials responsible for implementing the Apply AI Strategy for the transport sector came together for an insightful discussion. The key question: How can AI reinforce the competitiveness of the automotive and transport sector? Here are just a few key takeaways. 

A strategic opportunity for Europe’s mobility sector 

Challenge: AI is transforming the automotive and mobility industry. But to remain competitive Europe must catch up with the US and China, for example in terms of deploying autonomous vehicles or developing AI models. 

Opportunity: The EU can develop tailored AI models for the sector, building on strong industrial players and the data we have.  AI can enable gains in safety, with autonomous vehicles, in sustainability, by helping to plan public transport services or managing traffic, and efficiency, for instance by better coordinating logistics chains. But to achieve this, we need to address a set of interrelated barriers: regulatory complexity, trust, access to high-quality data, and uneven infrastructure readiness. 

Accessing high quality data to train AI models 

Challenge:  Barriers prevent the sharing of data and joint development of AI models, which have the potential to significantly accelerate AI development in Europe. 

Opportunity: The EU is working to enable data on three levels. First, certain high value data must be made accessible publicly, for example: real-time traffic information so autonomous vehicles can slow down before reaching an accident. Secondly, within the common European mobility data space peer-to-peer data sharing enables voluntary data sharing, for example: operations data in public transport. Lastly, Data Labs promote the use of data for AI training, for instance through neutral intermediaries. To fast-track the development of AI models, the EU is building digital infrastructure, like the AI factories, supporting strategic industrial collaboration, under the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance, and funding innovative research and innovation activities. 

Deploying autonomous vehicles 

Challenge: The deployment of autonomous vehicles in Europe is slowed down by fragmented regulations and technical, economic, political and organisational obstacles. 

Opportunity: To boost the commercialisation of autonomous vehicles, for passenger and goods transport, the European Commission will work with EU countries to establish large-scale, cross-border testbeds providing harmonised regulatory conditions. The Autonomous Drive Ambition Cities Initiative will help accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles in EU cities, bringing European technologies on European roads. It will foster local partnerships and the sharing of experience across the continent. 

Did you miss the live chat? 

Watch this discussion with our colleagues working on mobility and transport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZXrXmSJQq8&list=PLyMUk47rPuqobfPZY6i9OJ7_kW2A9KFJM 

You can also watch our previous webinars in our playlist at the link above to learn more about key sectors like robotics, manufacturing, healthcare, pharma and the overall goal of applying AI in industry.