On August 2, the European Union AI Act (AI Act) will come into force. This means that key new provisions will have to be taken into account, such as transparency and labeling obligations, as well as requirements for providers and operators of high-risk AI systems. However, for companies this date represents much more. Today we no longer ask ourselves whether we need regulation on AI, but rather: on what infrastructure can we reliably apply those rules?
To develop trustworthy AI, an infrastructure is necessary that guarantees security, transparency and control from the first moment. Requirements such as traceability, data security or auditability cannot be met solely at the application level; They must be integrated into the entire technology and cloud infrastructure. Anyone who does not control the infrastructure will find it difficult to sustainably comply with the regulatory demands of AI.
For this reason, the AI Act also becomes a boost for digital sovereignty and complements the recent legislative proposal presented by the European Commission: the EU Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA). In this context, digital sovereignty does not mean isolation, but freedom of choice, interoperability and the ability to make technological decisions independently and with a long-term vision, based on one’s own interests. Open standards and open source software play a critical role in this process. They provide transparency, avoid dependence on proprietary solutions from large hyperscalers and allow innovation on a solid basis prepared for the future.
These experiences highlight a trend that goes far beyond specific projects: the debate on artificial intelligence cannot focus solely on models, applications and regulation. The real strategic question is what infrastructure European companies will operate their AI on in the future. Because it is precisely there that it will be decided whether innovation, regulatory compliance and resilience can go hand in hand in a sustainable way.
Therefore, the AI Act is much more than a regulation. It is a mandate to build Europe’s digital future on a solid technological foundation. Open, sovereign and resilient infrastructures for cloud and artificial intelligence not only create the conditions necessary to develop compliant AI, but also strengthen innovation capacity, competitiveness and digital independence. Europe has the opportunity to demonstrate that trust and innovation are not opposite concepts, but complementary.
Strategic direction and business development
Holger Pfister is vice president for the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) at SUSE. He is responsible for the revenue, strategic direction and development of the company’s business in these three markets. As a member of the board of directors of the Open Source Business Alliance, he especially defends the use of open source software in public administrations.
Digital sovereignty does not mean isolation, but freedom of choice, interoperability and the ability to make technological decisions
In his role at SUSE, he helps companies, public agencies and partners create more resilient IT infrastructures, which are a key element of achieving digital sovereignty. Holger Pfister has more than 20 years of experience. Prior to joining SUSE, he led global and local sales operations and manufacturer relationships at international systems integrators. Previously, he worked for more than ten years at Microsoft Germany.
