Kevin Kohler

A CERN for AI needs strong talent clustering. Top researchers want to work with other top researchers. Unlike the talent concentration in Silicon Valley, European AI talent is more fragmented across hubs like Zurich, Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona. Speakers echoed calls from the Centre for Future Generations and CLAIRE/CAIRNE to consolidate research efforts across Europe in order to foster serendipitous innovation. As highlighted by the Centre for Future Generations, this is compatible with multiple, geographically separate AI Gigafactories. […] while it would be impossible to create a “de novo” AI talent hub within a brief period of time, an existing AI talent ecosystem can be chosen as a starting point for a CERN for AI hub. (2025) source Unverified

The idea of a “CERN for AI” was first proposed by cognitive scientist Gary Marcus at the AI for Good Summit in 2017. He invoked CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, as a model of international, publicly funded scientific collaboration that could be replicated for AI. Since then, the idea of a “CERN for AI” has gained momentum in AI governance. CERN is governed by a Council composed of representatives from its 25 member states. Each member state has two representatives: one from the government and one from the scientific community. Each country has one vote, and all decisions aim for consensus. (2025) source Unverified