The EU’s new industrial AI advisor faces severe conflict of interest

Snabe maintains his position as chair of Siemens, a company that spends at least €3.5 million annually on lobbying in Brussels and recently sought to weaken the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Although he has suspended roles on the advisory boards of Google Cloud and C3.ai, Snabe retains over €3.48 million in stock in the latter. This dual role allows him to influence regulations that directly impact his own commercial interests, including potential exemptions for industrial AI products.

The appointment aligns with a broader shift in the von der Leyen commission, where deregulation has become a central priority. Data suggests that nearly 70 percent of commission meetings are now held with corporate representatives. This trend has drawn sharp criticism from figures like Liberal MEP Michael McNamara, who likened the current administration to a pale imitation of the Trump White House. Despite mounting pressure, the commission refuses to disclose specific safeguards against these conflicts, citing privacy concerns—a stance that digital rights group EDRi characterizes as a cynical attempt to recast public protections as administrative burdens.