At TechBBQ, Europe’s AI conversations kept coming back to: Who’s actually in control?

At a European tech conference, discussions among investors and founders centered on who should control AI technology, particularly whether Europe should develop its own AI systems rather than depend on those from other geopolitical powers. The debate was prompted by an incident where certain AI models became unavailable to users outside Europe, raising concerns about reliance on foreign-controlled technology. The central concern was not about what AI can do technically, but about human agency and decision-making regarding what capabilities should be allowed and who maintains control over increasingly powerful AI systems. Speakers highlighted that issues like data privacy, national sovereignty, and questions about ownership and economic participation would need to be reconsidered in an era of advanced AI agents.