‹ Back

OpenAI Unveils a New Economic Blueprint for AI in EU | News

 

 

OpenAI has introduced its EU Economic Blueprint 2.0, a strategic set of initiatives and data insights aimed at accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the European Union and helping individuals, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and governments engage more fully with advanced AI tools. The blueprint, unveiled on January 28, 2026, emphasizes closing gaps in AI usage, advancing responsible adoption, and strengthening partnerships with EU Member States. 

 

The initiatives outlined in the blueprint reflect OpenAI’s effort to support economic growth and technological participation in Europe during a period when AI integration into business and public sectors is increasingly regarded as pivotal for global competitiveness. Key measures include training 20,000 SMEs in AI skills, a targeted funding program for youth safety research, and expanded collaboration frameworks for national AI priorities. 

 

Addressing AI Capability Gaps in the EU

 

A central theme of OpenAI’s blueprint is addressing what the company describes as Europe’s AI capability overhang. This term refers to the disparity between the technical potential of advanced AI systems and the extent to which they are currently being used by people and organizations in Europe. According to new usage data shared by OpenAI, intensive AI use varies significantly across EU Member States, with some countries lagging behind both regional and global averages. 

 

OpenAI reports that, overall, the EU uses about 17% more AI system capabilities on average than the global average, yet significant internal differences persist, with the most engaged Member States using approximately 40% more AI capacity than those at the lower end. Nine EU countries still fall below the global average, highlighting uneven AI adoption across the region. 

 

The blueprint recommends that policymakers consider national-level strategies to build AI skills and monitoring frameworks. Suggested measures include the introduction of AI in education frameworks, portable skill accreditation schemes, and systematic measurement of AI usage and adoption by sector and nation to track progress effectively. 

 

SME AI Accelerator Drives Small Business Adoption

 

OpenAI’s SME AI Accelerator is a flagship element of the blueprint, designed to boost AI adoption among small businesses that currently trail larger enterprises in usage rates. Insights from Eurostat show that in 2025, only 17% of small businesses in the EU had adopted AI, compared with 55% among larger companies. 

 

The accelerator, developed in partnership with Booking.com, targets 20,000 SMEs across six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The program aims to help business owners and teams boost productivity and growth through targeted workshops and virtual training sessions, including those available through OpenAI Academy, the company’s free AI learning platform. 

 

Participation in the SME AI Accelerator is open to businesses from all sectors and does not require prior technical expertise, reflecting OpenAI’s intent to broaden the base of AI competence and engagement across Europe. 

 

Promoting Responsible AI and Youth Safety Research

 

Alongside efforts to expand AI use, OpenAI highlights the importance of responsible adoption to build trust and ensure ethical outcomes. As part of this dimension of the blueprint, the company has launched a €500,000 Youth Safety Grant Program to support independent research and community initiatives that focus on child protection, digital wellbeing, and evidence-based approaches to youth online safety. 

 

OpenAI’s commitment to responsible AI includes participation in the EU AI Act’s Code of Practice for General Purpose AI, making it the first U.S. AI lab to sign the code and signal its engagement with European regulatory frameworks. This aligns with broader European efforts to govern AI technology through legislation designed to ensure transparency, safety, and respect for fundamental rights. 

 

The EU AI Act, which took effect in phases beginning in 2024 and continues implementation into 2026 and beyond, introduces risk-based regulation and compliance requirements for providers and deployers of AI systems, including general-purpose models like those developed by OpenAI. 

 

Strengthening Government Partnerships Across Europe

 

The blueprint also reinforces OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to partner with governments and regional stakeholders. Through the initiative OpenAI for Europe, the company plans to expand its engagement beyond current collaborations to support national priorities in education, healthcare, disaster response, cybersecurity, and startup development. 

 

OpenAI has already been active across Europe in areas such as sovereign AI infrastructure initiatives, nationwide access to AI in education, and skill-building programs spanning countries including Estonia, Greece, Ireland, and Slovakia. The extension of these efforts through OpenAI for Europe signifies an ambition to deepen the role of AI in public service ecosystems and national development strategies. 

 

Broader AI Policy and Competitive Landscape

 

OpenAI’s strategic engagement with the EU’s AI agenda comes against a backdrop of broader regulatory activity in Europe. The EU’s AI Act represents one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence globally, establishing new obligations and compliance pathways for companies providing advanced AI technologies. 

 

In parallel, European regulators are also addressing competitive dynamics involving major AI and tech players. For instance, recent antitrust scrutiny by EU authorities into API access restrictions on messaging platforms has raised questions about competition in the AI market, with implications for providers such as OpenAI.

 

As Europe’s AI regulatory and adoption landscape continues to evolve, OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint 2.0 reflects the company’s efforts to support broad-based AI engagement, drive economic and social value, and align technological progress with European policy goals.