At TechBBQ in Copenhagen, Europe's startup community gathered around one central question: who should control AI? Across panels, side conversations and networking sessions, founders, investors and operators repeatedly returned to the idea of digital sovereignty and Europe's role in shaping the next wave of intelligent systems.
The discussion gained urgency after Anthropic's AI models Mythos and Fable became unavailable to users outside Europe earlier this year. For many attendees, the moment highlighted a broader issue: whether European companies should depend on infrastructure and models built elsewhere, or invest more deeply in their own capabilities.
Ellen de Brever, angel investor and head of partnerships at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, said the conference theme of "Emerging from Agency" felt especially relevant. She noted that the debate was less about machines becoming smarter and more about how much control people are willing to hand over.
Privacy also emerged as a major theme. In a session featuring Signal President Meredith Whittaker, the conversation focused on whether AI assistants can coexist with strong privacy standards. Whittaker argued that the current AI boom is accelerating large-scale data collection and that users still have a clear demand for privacy-focused tools.
Emad Mostaque, co-founder of Stability AI and Intelligent Internet, added another layer to the discussion by linking AI to economic power and personal autonomy. His remarks reflected a wider concern across the event: as AI agents take on more tasks, societies may need to rethink ownership, work and participation in the digital economy.
Beyond AI, TechBBQ also highlighted women's health, Nordic-African innovation partnerships and the need for more growth capital in Europe. Yet the most memorable takeaway was the human one: even in a room full of advanced technology, direct connection and shared ideas remained at the center of progress. The future of AI may ultimately be shaped by how thoughtfully people choose to guide it.
