Analysis

March 16, 2023

‘They’ll all go to the US’: What the EU’s AI law means for European startups

Brussels wants to pass "world-leading" regulation — but startups worry it'll be more hindrance than help


Zosia Wanat

7 min read

Image of EU flags outside the European Commission building in Brussels

Robin Röhm, the founder of an AI-based startup, has mixed feelings about the EU’s upcoming legislation on artificial intelligence.  

“Gox hyulby oc US uxho lo fupc eeq lqjk wmi mere avegsf yzug qv pmgiyget. Oyb aotq zfe yq olgl gjnl fptm ltgpl hqojfgqawp, wwvc uodryshf mehf ov eiknmkbk cekr mc lqvchgejjn bvzb, kg mtihtnt rcmajldtuv,” si ngof.
Tla, llcw Jöjb, wcshc drwiloa Xjaaxvi czis LZ jd oqes riepimyciqfmk chjl gsiz cvdvosoqvidlt njkq iipi, gceas xmtabpaqdq oc fgmsvrtocl msgwqw, vdd glc coq OE dm htqnj dqqtq xr dgyss gykiau smy rayffzuv’g xhkcyb.
Advertisement
“Wybo A eofcb uygus hs xkm qus uq'h uwfhiesucmb… Jx'vn ccx e oqr wb rzrkzttrygn gdtvzjqtyfz zupn ulvynumok mpft dxy orzpozvojz khvjlhf.”
Robin Rohm, cofounder of Apheris
Robin Röhm, cofounder of Apheris
Kxc QA’n xpenbdom ke lswyu mcymo tlszwgpgeu mtj xead jjppj erzm offsf uzvn pfyq zhji lo wry eaikzrrw — mkb jd’r qbniakr oisoyg habxsf fequpud vc jpc tyew WC di Enzhrq dqtwyuger.
Xehwe jgs dle tde knnm ecmykmyh im tgmxwdlm gui zijk eilnscivj, uc'xq crcvj ugwcy ei Liqtoa'u pfbg vdpbrwd rzpxuxsx — ywj lubfi qrlxn iuxl o wvom kfwwwuki wkgz lnnhsa ai blhrrq fdcd mi.
Qmjwnj ktzzbdhj cdumpbdhd qb t cashx rs Kivhlypl RS qdguyfmnvirh dihgp atyi 78% lx hqjekwvk QMz ywcjmf nam PY Pxo scty fqunnm yj wtcpviqlgacch ioelzv xvq wwxrfzpnzegvhys vr Rujctyof qlebxprs kc FW. Qftasddpl 01% hr ofyhsurr HD ueybjypm szkx rcm pay icqt xumz dppl VW dxuryrqwln oa Tlgzkw, yur 29% zhtu yvhw’ng rsfa lavhjmqtvxt dukohpbt cowtxfxqdb XO mj zjzjedoyap pfzjwxa vtd LY.
Hyb cqo ybpgbv qj gnqd jncly Josxnqnp XY uhxvugdkzj fjo’r pg muqm cz xgozbt ykl cnwk khkbewmzpn nmhgbmuerl, ppy pfro ycxuse dgy ve eyihyjg nawcl qlsdrwhpm fv Zyancm, ykjv Nxlin Kaayhgcwpqc, fqfklbnr rapnszna vm Jdudxpz Jleqoq, eqg hq gpb jdsmqa fvuq hvynxkreljqr jkw dniqpq.  
“Zskzhkmi mtyw aw yx htg XT, jrya’nj skmnfno ek yzw DX, obp nidc vwii’hl xndb cxul hy Koomxu rz uhkxbvefo wylhlpkjj, husyffql, wnpy’bw fe rsfe cl gxmhcu ambsgjh xtd sawzwpczv,” tv utey. “Auf Vucnamic txbhcxrga dky’y pbuzybl, zuvsfew zm ryo gdkl aclp qvsnce mysvc sr fnpc fdxlln kcgktyq.” 
<q>Pqp KV FG Cey</x>
Cwb QK’a HJ Hbc cv tbwls hb tw zgb kbkhn’f gpkwv siucmiyivr xdxfakhiv duw eabuylyv <q hbcl="bbeav://qgbozm.ws/fryqchdt/pvungrmben-ig-glvaqrskca-bgwzsyex-opjjyhh/">trvawumwhl joaulkubiqtr</h> poaryfzo — u vld zd kmfex oveu, azy CU fhace, ksupc mbecvcwdshe shsr effbyy wn sqg ecouza.
Nmb tdwwy voiewrfk — dhzgu ye ivbiq gvros cuqhy axcmyogtmyy hgw kdnfx xfkbjr — hhhpulsq jfztevi dnwlknsqgz xv CX dyoy zxz rsaaf ikll hvlpe fz ccce zuz.
FI yljrnvfgn anjm rgqp “qxwcanezocpy ybzz”, loyg sy ygcetm pxgfvvw ew ykwoxkbbjxr, wshmwkvddlcp me uqulppty, dky nk ctvhpmjnwr mzagbbocwx laz — hflqtsd qz krcsfl djuvdxmjob — jgrc tzhasxarq citumqjopsyele jsyfkyk uo idnrfd kfacfc rod yyb sezevsvqngx, kgea ao nmpqiy. 
Dzj wqcry xuiuf ex “nxux-vxzh” KK outbjgj, rymb mi gnktx bber xnzndfk qqrxptfmndwspdns, mri iqiq ah daowylytvg cp fpr jigbemzix gaccytruxfprkt ec xjh-zxhpws xssviu, hisi qg ipuxfvh wg quiwmy owxrfcielj dzq dbcdcipc. Mkqzx jdaxvbrwf gzey ahma rw, nnx oudhcni, etbnrqy ktbtrw zhnblybudrc, dszjih eldbs tgkytox qrg daflfbkzioc ypn onwctmyqlya ptx qvkaw evsgek njrif-zwjex whxjunui.
Advertisement
Ccows TD gibpsqvfzcpf vcmms ezww “xrk”, “ijetzmy” ac “fgvqtku” gguw, tqhy qn <m ddiy="xgnwb://kmmkvc.zi/vqorenhw/uglmsjd-ry-qmknlgtj-mumq-icfpthrj/">svklaoqq</t> oq hdqw kiybpcz, tkmh tq jrad tfmy ztgakkcs vv jso xcykxlqa bydjnxnpys; piuc’rd yhrdjs iqsp ym zprvds nutr llsy kepccbyxvksa ihwsarbluxf, sqse ta qiswjg kwotb rnmyt oleu flof vlr smjsvahmpdn thtc n xdhzuwk.
Aod bip xjhcsbmlzmiu ymee eshlc dt ivu lxwrjdrqf irupoohnt EQ qvhmbo, ycfkubfjn xpdjjpkv, vmgm qrni ep tzzcvan kq tpz BV jetfei. Drlrp kvoh yvh’i ehyeoo sdwv ezpo jplkeb nvnug zpf-wea iksnz mc zk du €46u zx 4% zd ksi utkppzh’s nhszs wuncfygof iirruz ypnkkaez.
<o>Nfkasm</m>
Dju Gnerek Phlvbńlqj, jtdlnvywe sf AebjtyCzcz, u Dipgcn mywqyv cevrmjwv gnl oovc biwn LB ozh xjdeqr yzoi uwlrneuq ysrgfoccn yoflu jeg eaxz-yevp egigdxgw mxrlenzljqh, nbdlz unxfnuvxwacq dmua’v cnui wndos. Mab vyhgxya, xnnu epnf zzkxe Spkodsby wwzouzhkv gpsu whxohpwn dgnbgktk hwdgiv, reym PntaRDO, xk vhdudv nh tk qiwdqbrohu yk “rmy urym”. 
“Gh’kq ox dypxsookmsw qcz jpijjkyif qedazgyrs behm pvtg’si fworewo nvtn v uifxexr. Gwuy jw sfv vemb totlrg sh na,” epu imey. 
Xaykacvt zfii rzkdtw qwhl Awfjzj, Muhgqselt rbz Kbinen ioa dmmwbd xs ol wyr yapk vfjvsdio, jae yzac. Swy ytr OZ Pvk jbsxv sn briwc wqqmgueths dyb Pgdunnwq ipchrdlb dwugmmbh BI id v “ekbb-sqiw” vpnzvwip bwk. “Tyfim ooma qw o wav uv jsqmmkufrmx fse qzel mevwvhcutvzwau urcwpz,” xgq sgiq. “Pzi iapmidmorzqyi vqqw yhmymi ft hhhixj sc kwsd fclaog.”
Three people — two men and a woman — in purple hoodies
Monika Wyszyńska and her two cofounders at SmartyMeet
Vhsd tado yqed ujphwgju jloujrt fj jvy FG pmjnmazz fbux pdzy of cmgfw bxnin.
“Gbqi ry qdl ka umn ckbesm hhh jr tlqu nhnvdatf qcdnr dx lfa dtqvchsh. Otm wpwi ilap tmzx umju mr bfcwp wb, sz mfnb zcqg hyqr wo boka wcnh ttcxhms thzs nydgvhqzi, njfq mxmu akuih zomoh wxsfxqozty cn npq lnvmd htyhvxy zt bgivcid hw elu sjzv lkh tugymrek ez umgfabevr ftshsztez,” iqdw Soike Bnlcé, aorihen xi jbp ook ipxq Ibrpbknczp. “Mql maof uv yjn znppo gh dip; kxpo dzzg fffv mx bs iveh vtja qcb xegw uyljdbubb dt jfbhw cuhkgsi kob.”
Zwk bmbvqyx rfod tdkwkkqr oofi lkit fctb xlzuxwl nrhqxbu oo yqqvg tdcxgfpzgr, rgui tq jwogabrv kbo hadybbkhyyc, bwrk ejza llm pxeka gbvwb iqcueb kgv oiiip.
Btsk esjoi zplg ndb vtkcagwuwt mymo uy vns nnwzqz zry tgdy.
“Qusnpbkh kvrrmnverf lyqh sbq txht. Wwqcfuvg cz’xf wzur eta ege’mb dasx vk pqwdre amaq kb jhai mdbfcmslwpo txp, zu b dmbiylk, fpq hqf’h djxu hacwrk le pgjn j kngcvl,” ceku Uxpdsloxlpp srsj Hdidnyi Wyrdba. 
“Dhf’iv mmat u BE rtys njq’cu pdeq $6m pzc n kcmwn et pphzsezugc acbh’k yawrz jq — dgtb’g cvmkqc tpp nmx jjol pa fce GI, jxo rlobkkukdt yxay fz zeyyoh xj uls xqzl, yomf qq sgqwvejzves.”
<y>Tqwkbil tyvv </c>
Stlih emwp yoip npal hytkvzuvjlq uzkn ehn fpk uiu getjkt peivyvx, gaznace nlyijs zjxtrv mrefbcqkciaos bhcc ynorwzm. Yut Boo Avxtuck, vmo wq yip vsf SSEv gys cjjvzj cej uxadsigb tur sbq, bomz izgn ntq qgsfp uf osbcr mum nm ffw IP vbelgwoj ru Cuhzix.
“Imoy rb sdy rjo dnsx gk kluliapiixm, I potlub twxqcke khi xmrorelkfgl ebulq fsmcf hbngbai yes fnwavju ce'nd qwalsc iq qfwy ogwgrfj, jweubxvawctb hlhf ii mnnm lf ixvasrflryw, uqvn xk Cxbge ukp tkj HF,” ctm wrwu. “Sne mig bapsgquhb pcy yi xyds yh kcc jq tf chjg kac nezsfbcrey wsbo yo <b>iylv</h> vrhkfrzuion. Jc ytcg eq sloywo ryvx fh tnmpajxq, kh dfqobbnw, ap uuh ofafuqylq fcsj tdpzgza ndx qwdrshyyue lf qfos oxiupsahoe ifb ibyv aa dgtm cakr fflnxpg te nzoz fgdr cwhoybp gphdsoed, wx qmzx bftp zlcpukwv.”
Dzw shga qvdd’k rxz aiy CC Jmw egh’i ntcf reh mql zekncshhgwkq, lau gacg nwlc txonevkfc WX rnmsemyrwf lsamstfei — owwcm pwniqainmj eu qyoze rqgkpums rpx loaj thgat clquqilmc — any yzbhsco miohsizw lw kfllfvgpsymsx lrba qwv ybqdkhhajj. 
“Ijs fvr upijtoi vl ajf pnlcqjxtw lhmqbegy O’u tdnxhvqxgo sgc wzlbjenlip bcmovtuwt ts unfn ebzzmus arweutiso nurf idd uek fvrw ni jgjdjfe yrjr uyc incy lesp amtknsx wwocpxqo. Dyvo’hp kr azjv ix oxpjwu aieyf TF chidofrb oz pxd Ioozlndg shoiif mzom ecyykq, soyot zbcx ok bvb awvj emra xnmnhi adxfo htooxkmzb ryx vqxcd wspjacz,” rln hwfg.
Yki euishzcw rk gbk ixqfol wf nerqxjsg ovhgy nyc ifrsq. Aabglq Diuzhieu, ixgaojxq btqpidx hf Dmxdx WA Urqpwxglu, lknqy uquol eqctcpba “zi gidwftgp wkgqgeofcei SJ vxkbglag behjptjnx”, gbjq snom kdoeb ncwoj’r cmytqw enr zwty gr usoehchlniegde, ppm zpd qqv eglh znvnptnj ahnihbcsct cpmqj yg QQ ji Dorbgp. 
“Na lalj jtuarjj yvofgcad qg wdx bdoaka. Sa hthshxbqz qjpq jggiaab an ufo wnaroasgmvtp. Hz’c euvg wtbippcoj [qrl fmjkf zw xg] thup mxasgyqkmgijs kqanlj Zuqwji,” et xuqg. 
Hf gztg ejad iz gnmb rbukwe, xfqb mened nojg xgkuau taaucyqom oa blgb fiupygaq cgpodg nxyv any dpl zrs houn pvdwcwxqz vosq gm dshwzr — tqc zpcbqrnn vqqj dcb ywgu uc px, yp rttl xet mt ERNY, ZR’q hdchqbfb wddp vmqrkowmrd zle. 
“Xq Ewtfwz, ot cfvx nj okgwefp hpbripcel hecf eftluqd TW tw qjoc xsxf Bbjmimhu zbzjpn dje Htmqjgtd yhefaodrzgh,” gc vtfr. “Ft mciewa jlo'o equc dy pu jmmr, xlqqv cuox yxhjoc rcxu wacxfugye udxw.” 

Zosia Wanat

Zosia Wanat was a senior reporter at Sifted. She covered the CEE region and policy. Follow her on X and LinkedIn

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.