Von der Leyen’s AI envoy pick draws conflict-of-interest fire The European Commission appointed Siemens chairman Jim Hagemann Snabe as its special envoy for industrial AI, a move met with criticism due to his prior lobbying efforts to weaken the EU’s AI Act. Snabe will advise on accelerating AI adoption, a role that critics argue places industry interests above regulatory caution. His past board positions with Google Cloud and C3.ai, and Siemens’ leading role in securing an industrial AI exemption in the AI Act, fuel concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

• Jim Hagemann Snabe, chairman of Siemens’ supervisory board, appointed as EU special envoy for industrial AI.
• Critics allege conflict of interest as Snabe previously lobbied for rollback of the EU’s AI Act.
• The EU AI Act was recently simplified, including a delay for high-risk AI obligations and an exemption for industrial AI.
• Germany, led by Siemens, pushed for the industrial AI exemption.
• Snabe will suspend his Google Cloud and C3.ai board memberships during his unpaid mandate until March 2027.
• Concerns remain about Snabe’s ties to Big Tech and the enterprise AI market.
• The Commission states a conflict-of-interest assessment was conducted, but details are not public.
• Snabe’s role aims to boost industrial AI adoption, balancing regulatory ambitions with corporate reality. Continue reading https://thenextweb.com/news/von-der-leyens-ai-envoy-pick-triggers-conflict-of-interest-backlash-weeks-after-siemens-helped-gut-the-ai-act