Leaving the EU may end up “saving the UK economy”, says the CEO of London-based AI startup Synthesia, citing a growing number of tech regulations coming out of Brussels.
In 2016 the UK narrowly voted to leave the bloc, although it would take until the start of 2020 for Brexit to actually happen, following years of backroom wrangling over trade and migration rules.
In an interview with Sifted published Saturday, Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli criticised the EU’s approach to tech regulation, particularly the AI Act, which has been the subject of industry-wide criticism.
“I’m not a Brexiteer, but if we look back in 10 or 15 years, it might turn out to have saved the UK economy,” Riparbelli says. “Because they would not be following all these stupid regulations.”
He adds: “We shit on our tech companies every time there’s the slightest thing wrong. This constant negativity, that’s what’s holding Europe back more than anything.”
Earlier this month, dozens of European startups and investors published an open letter demanding the EU halt plans to enforce the Act, branding it a “rushed ticking time bomb” that could undermine competition in the region and force some companies to relocate.
“I love Europe and I want Europe to succeed,” says Riparbelli, who added his name to the open letter. “I could have moved my company to the US so many times. We’ve kept it here, and we want to keep it here but man, they’re not making it easy.”
The EU did respond to the campaign, insisting there would be “no pause” but discussions are said to be ongoing regarding a potential grace period for companies that sign up to a related code of practice.
Read the full interview with Victor Riparbelli here.
Read the orginal article: https://sifted.eu/articles/synthesia-ai-news-brexit-ai-act/
