Germany unveils 18-point AI strategy with 2030 targets

The German government's AI Taskforce, led by Digital Minister Carsten Wildberger, presented a strategy in Berlin under the motto Shaping AI Safe, Sovereign und Competitive. The plan includes 18 measures with targets for 2030: 80% of large enterprises and 55% of the mid-sized sector are to use AI, 90% of federal authorities must have at least one AI application in use, and more than 10% of economic output should be based on AI. Data from the Statistisches Bundesamt shows AI adoption in companies rose from 12% in 2023 to 26% in 2025, with large enterprises already at 57%.

The strategy aims to quadruple AI data center capacity from approximately 0.5 gigawatts in 2025 to 2 gigawatts by 2030, a figure aligned with Bitkom's industry forecast. Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the government must potentially discuss a basic income due to AI's impact on work and automation. Merz argued that work is changing and being automated, requiring a discussion on unconditional basic income. Critics noted that the 90% federal authority target is a low bar that treats AI as an end in itself rather than a tool for efficiency, and that the 2030 compute target is modest compared to current US capacity.