Ask HN: Could Europe build their own AI infrastructure?
I wonder how Europe is set up for the coming AI race around the world.
What would happen if Europe were to be cut off from American supply of GPUs?
As far as I know, Europe has control over one company that is involved in the supply chain to build AI hardware: ASML. They build the lithography equipment which is needed to produce the wafers which are needed to produce the processors.
Are there companies around the world who can/could build this type of lithography equipment?
If Europe loses this piece of control over the AI supply chain, would Europe then be at the mercy of the USA for AI hardware supply? How long would it take for Europe to produce their own GPUs?
No. There is no Europe as a single entity with its own individual agency. Even if only for that reason - the answer is "no".
On top of that European governments got very good at banning and regulating things, not so much at innovating or creating a good climate for innovators and entrepreneurs.
> What would happen if Europe were to be cut off from American supply of GPUs?
What would happen if America would be cut off of EU supply of ASML machines?
That is the question I wanted to raise with "Are there companies around the world who can/could build this type of lithography equipment?".
How hard would it for the rest of the world to build this type of lithography equipment?
ASML? Some would say 10 to 15 years at least. But ASML had/has many Chinese and US employees so both countries probably have copies of the secret sauce. By what I heard their vetting of employees is minimal...
It doesn't matter.
US companies will want to have consumers and Europe has them, so they would like to offer their services in the EU.
AI hardware is also produced in China. Americans don't want to talk about it, but Huawei has good inference hardware and software.
Look at the German automotive industry. Once they produced something the world wanted. Will they still do that in the age of electric autonomy?
Except for ASML's technology, which competitive advantage does the European industry have to stay relevant in international trade?
if you're referring to Nvidia's GPUs - Nvidia doesn't have its own manufacturing capability, they outsource the semiconductor manufacturing to TSMC. Arguably they're better described as Taiwanese GPUs than American GPUs.
Only the chips, right? I guess the rest of the GPU is made elsewhere?
As for the chips - TSMC started to also make these in the USA last year.
So the USA have brought this part of the manufacturing process inhouse already.
What would happen after the rush is over and the machines rot like old mining gear?