What stands on what.

1. 08AI & automationLanguage models, assistants, analysis. The newest layer — and the fastest growing.▾

   Switching is cheap — usually one line of code. But the models run on American accelerators, and the strongest models are not European.

   Typically in use

   • OpenAI
   • Anthropic
   • Google Gemini
   • DeepSeek

   European option exists

   • Mistral AI
   • Aleph Alpha
   • IONOS AI Model Hub
   • Scaleway Generative APIs
   • Black Forest Labs
   • OpenGPT-X / Teuken

   Effort: Small

   See also

   • EU AI Act
   • Digital sovereignty
2. 07Business applications & dataCRM, ERP, accounting, industry software. This holds the data the company consists of.▾
3. 06Workplace & communicationEmail, files, chat, video, documents. The layer every employee sees every day.▾
4. 05Identity & accessWho may sign in, and who decides. The master key to everything above.▾
5. 04Cloud services & storageCompute, databases, object storage, backups. Where the CLOUD Act actually bites.▾
6. 03Operating system & virtualisationLinux, hypervisors, container orchestration. The layer every application sits on.▾
7. 02Hardware & chipsServers, network gear, processors and accelerators. What is missing here cannot be replaced with software.▾
8. 01Data centre, power & networkBuildings, power, submarine cables and exchange points. The one layer you can physically touch.▾

The deeper the layer, the longer the exit — and the more hangs on it. Which is why one change at the bottom usually beats three at the top.