At TechBBQ in Copenhagen, discussions among investors, founders, and operators from across Europe extended beyond merely exploring AI technologies to a critical inquiry about who should govern it. Throughout the annual Nordic conference, conversations consistently emphasized the importance of Europe asserting greater control over the AI technologies it uses.
This focus on sovereignty, coinciding with the theme “Emerging from Agency,” gained significance after Anthropic’s AI models, Mythos and Fable, were restricted for use outside Europe earlier this year.
This incident prompted many within the European tech ecosystem to reflect on the implications of owning AI models and the associated infrastructure rather than relying on solutions from the U.S. or China.
One startup leader remarked that the fallout from the Mythos and Fable event profoundly impacted his software team, while another seemed indifferent. They acknowledged that depending on geopolitical rivals for AI solutions could potentially lead to significant challenges for Europe in the future, but currently, they felt things were manageable.
“The theme of agency at TechBBQ felt especially relevant this year as discussions shifted from what AI can achieve to what we’re willing to allow it to do,” Ellen de Brever, an angel investor and head of partnerships at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, shared during the conference, which concluded on August 27.
The event featured panels focusing on women’s health, a summit exploring how Nordic and African ecosystems can cooperate on innovation and investment, and discussions on increasing growth capital in Europe. While AI was a recurring subject in various dialogues, as de Brever highlighted, “the debates centered not on smarter machines but on human judgment and who retains control.”
“The narrative of AI agents isn’t merely about machines gaining autonomy,” she added. “It’s fundamentally about humans determining what they are willing to relinquish.”
An attendee mentioned that one of the most enlightening panels of the event featured Signal President Meredith Whittaker, which was moderated by me. This discussion centered on whether privacy can coexist with AI. Whittaker voiced her concerns directly, criticizing the integration of AI assistants and agents into operating systems, exemplified by how ChatGPT is incorporated into iMessage.
She described the current AI landscape as evolving into a “data collection apparatus,” cautioning that AI labs are employing clever marketing to downplay the repercussions of extensive data collection.
“There remains a significant demand for privacy,” she noted. “Given the sovereignty issues, there will definitely be customers here.”
In another panel discussion, Emad Mostaque, co-founder of Stability AI and Intelligent Internet, joined me in examining how an agentic workforce might influence the economy and its implications for personal sovereignty.
“Sovereignty denotes the ability to resist external power,” Mostaque explained. He highlighted the growing concentration of authority within a small number of AI labs, predicting that “ultimately, AI will govern every country, and whoever controls the AI effectively controls the nation.”
Mia Negru, advocacy and engagement director for Life With Artificials, reached out to me following the panel to share her reflections.
“If intelligent agents take on cognitive tasks and robots undertake physical work, we might be on the verge of a transformative shift rather than just another technological revolution,” she stated. “We may need to reconsider ownership, labor, democracy, economic participation, and ultimately who gets to be part of society.”
Beyond the panels, attendees enjoyed relaxed networking at happy hours and rooftop gatherings, where lighter exchanges became the norm.
Companies like Lovable, Nvidia, OpenAI, AWS Startups, and HSBC collaborated to host a rooftop barbecue, where I engaged with founders regarding the burgeoning tech scene in Denmark. Ada Ventures from London organized a gathering at the cocktail bar Bird, leading to discussions with a health tech founder about innovative advancements in women’s brain health. The speakers’ dinner on an island in Copenhagen featured the international press enjoying a fire dancing performance. The after-party continued upstairs, with guests tempted to linger over final drinks until the tab closed.
“Despite the numerous discussions surrounding machines, the most significant moments arise from the simplest interactions,” de Brever reflected. “Building relationships, exchanging ideas in person, and reminding each other of what technology can never replicate are what truly matter.”
