On May 20, during her speech at the Annual EU Budget Conference 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated:
When the current budget was negotiated, we thought AI would only approach human reasoning around 2050. Now we expect this to happen already next year. It is simply impossible to determine today where innovation will lead us by the end of the next budgetary cycle. Our budget of tomorrow will need to respond fast.
This is remarkable coming from the highest-ranking EU official. It suggests the Overton window for AI policy has shifted significantly.
"Approaching human level" seems reasonable. I think one should just read this as her updating towards short timelines in general based on what experts say rather than her trying to make a prediction.
On May 20, during her speech at the Annual EU Budget Conference 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated:
This is remarkable coming from the highest-ranking EU official. It suggests the Overton window for AI policy has shifted significantly.