European Commission has yet to appoint a leading scientific consultant in AI, despite receiving numerous applications for the position.
The European Commission's AI Office is still on the hunt for their lead scientific advisor on General-Purpose AI (GPAI), despite opening the job vacancy back in November-December last year. A senior official from the AI Office confirmed to our site that the hiring process is still underway.
The advisor's role involves ensuring a high level of scientific understanding on GPAI, leading the scientific approach on all aspects of the AI Office's work, and maintaining scientific rigor in AI initiatives. They'll work closely with the AI Office's Safety Unit to test and evaluate GPAI models[1].
Meanwhile, the Commission's work on GPAI, including large language models like ChatGPT, is still in progress. The deadline for the publication of the voluntary Code of Practice on GPAI, intended to help AI model providers comply with the EU's AI Act, was missed back in May. The delay? A flood of requests to extend the consultation period beyond the original plan[3].
Criticism came from publishers about the Code of Practice interplay with copyright rules and US Big Tech companies labeling it as restrictive and burdensome to innovation. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier addressed these concerns during a press conference on Friday, expressing hopes for the publication of the updated draft before the summer[3].
The EU AI Act, which regulates AI tools according to their risk level, came into effect last August. However, its provisions will be implemented gradually, with full applicability in 2027[3].
The Commission announced a preference for a European candidate to fill the lead scientific advisor role. In 2023, the EU faced criticism for appointing a US national, Fiona Scott Morton, as chief economist. Scott Morton eventually withdrew after a political backlash about a non-EU candidate taking charge of a role impacting Big Tech firms[4].
By the end of this year, the AI Office is planning to grow to 140 full-time positions, up from the current 100[4].
[1] - General-Purpose AI advisor role requires scientific understanding and rigor[2] - The Lead Scientific Adviser role for GPAI was established and filled in April 2025[3] - Delays abound in publishing the EU's Code of Practice for GPAI[4] - EU prefers European candidates for lead scientific advisor role and the controversy surrounding the appointment of a non-EU candidate for the chief economist role in 2023.
- The lead scientific advisor on General-Purpose AI (GPAI) at the European Commission's AI Office is responsible for maintaining a high level of scientific understanding on GPAI, leading the scientific approach on all aspects of the AI Office's work, and ensuring scientific rigor in AI initiatives, including the testing and evaluation of GPAI models.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the European Commission is currently navigating complex issues surrounding its AI Act, Artificial-Intelligence, and GPAI models, such as the delay in publishing the Code of Practice on GPAI, in tandem with dealing with public criticism and US Big Tech companies' labeling it as restrictive and burdensome to innovation.
