Leading industrial conglomerate Bosch plans to invest over €2.5 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of 2027, claiming to set the pace in AI development and application.
“The breakthroughs in AI make it possible to open up completely new chapters in technology, accelerate the development of innovations, and turn these into business,” Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management, said.
One of the key focus areas for Bosch is the application of AI to assisted and automated driving. While the broader market is still maturing, the company sees strong long-term potential. By the mid-2030s, Bosch expects its sales of software, sensors, high-performance vehicle computers, and connectivity components to exceed €10 billion.
This confidence is backed by Bosch’s early-mover advantage in AI, built by combining advanced AI with deep industrial expertise. Over the past five years, the company has filed more than 1,500 AI-related patent applications, placing it among the top applicants in Europe.
However, Bosch’s leadership has raised concerns about Europe’s regulatory environment. Speaking at a tech conference in Stuttgart on Wednesday, Hartung warned that excessive regulation is holding back the region’s AI progress.
Reuters reported that he criticised the combination of bureaucracy and vague rules, saying it made Europe less attractive for AI development. Hartung urged lawmakers to focus only on essential safeguards, adding, “Otherwise, we will regulate ourselves to death, because we are trying to regulate against technological progress.”
His remarks come amidst the increasing pressure in the AI development race, especially following US President Donald Trump’s push to build AI infrastructure and invest $500 billion in the private sector. Earlier this year at the Paris Summit, US VP JD Vance opposed Europe’s extensive AI regulation and outlined the Trump administration’s America-first approach to maintaining US dominance in AI.
