At the recent TechBBQ conference in Copenhagen, European investors, founders, and operators gathered to discuss artificial intelligence with a particular focus not just on innovation, but on control and sovereignty. The annual Nordic event, themed “Emerging from Agency,” highlighted concerns over Europe’s reliance on AI models and infrastructure controlled largely by the U.S. and China, especially after Anthropic restricted access to its Mythos and Fable models outside Europe earlier this year. This incident underscored the risks of “renting” AI power and sparked deeper conversations about Europe’s need to build and own its AI capabilities.

The debate shifted away from purely technical marvels to questions of human agency, examining who gets to decide how much power AI systems should hold. Ellen de Brever of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator noted that the discussion centered on maintaining human judgment and staying "in the driver’s seat" as AI capabilities expand. This focus was evident across diverse panels, including those on women’s health and Nordic-African ecosystem collaborations, where AI served as an undercurrent influencing talks about innovation and investment.

A standout moment came from Signal President Meredith Whittaker, who warned against embedding AI agents into operating systems without regard for privacy, calling out aggressive data collection practices by AI companies. Emad Mostaque, co-founder of Stability AI, emphasized the concept of sovereignty as the ability to resist external power, warning of potential AI concentration risks where “the person that controls the AI controls the country.” Themes of ownership, democratic participation, and societal impact emerged as conference attendees grappled with AI’s long-term implications beyond technology alone.

Despite intense discussions about AI’s future and control, the event also featured moments of informal networking and celebration, including rooftop barbecues and dinners. These gatherings underscored the enduring value of human connection and collaboration in an increasingly automated world. As de Brever reflected, the most memorable parts of TechBBQ remained the face-to-face conversations and relationship-building that remind attendees of what technology cannot replace.