At TechBBQ in Copenhagen, discussions among investors, founders, and operators from various parts of Europe revolved not merely around building with AI but rather around who ought to wield control over it. Regardless of your location during the annual Nordic conference—whether onstage, during cocktail hours, or at after-parties—the dialogue continually returned to how Europe could assert greater control over the technology driving AI.

This inquiry into sovereignty—fittingly aligned with this year’s theme of “Emerging from Agency”—was particularly pertinent following the unavailability of Anthropic’s AI models Mythos and Fable to users outside Europe earlier this year.

The situation prompted many within the European ecosystem to seriously contemplate the implications of owning the models and the infrastructure supporting this AI surge, rather than depending on the U.S. and China for that power.

One startup executive remarked to me that the Mythos and Fable incident significantly disrupted his software team, while another downplayed its impact. Indeed, the startup executive acknowledged that relying on two other geopolitical powers for AI could one day lead to considerable challenges for Europe, but at present, things remain largely satisfactory. 

“TechBBQ’s theme of agency felt especially relevant this year as the dialogue shifted from what AI is capable of to what we are genuinely prepared to allow it to do,” Ellen de Brever, an angel investor and head of partnerships at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, shared with me during the conference that concluded on August 27.

Panels addressed the future of women’s health, a summit on collaboration between Nordic and African ecosystems for innovation and investment, and discussions on increasing the flow of growth capital into Europe. Although AI served as a common thread in numerous conversations, as de Brever noted, “the debates centered not on smarter machines, but on human judgment and who retains control.” 

“The era of AI agents isn’t solely about machines gaining agency,” she elaborated. “It’s about humans determining what to relinquish.” 

An attendee mentioned that one of the most invigorating sessions at the event was the panel featuring Signal President Meredith Whittaker, which I moderated, centered on whether privacy and AI can coexist. Whittaker was forthright and expressed strong opposition to the integration of AI assistants and agents into operating systems, akin to ChatGPT’s implementation with iMessage.

She stated that this AI epoch is establishing a “data collection apparatus” and that AI labs are utilizing savvy marketing tactics to obscure “the collateral consequences” of amassing so much data. 

“There remains a substantial market demand for privacy,” she remarked. “And especially in light of sovereignty concerns, we will find customers here.” 

In another session, Emad Mostaque, co-founder of Stability AI and Intelligent Internet, joined me on a panel discussing how an agentic workforce will influence the economy and its implications for personal sovereignty.

“Sovereignty is the capacity to resist power exerted over you,” Mostaque stated. He discussed the accumulation of power within a few AI labs, asserting that “eventually, every nation will be governed by AI and that ‘the person controlling the AI governs the nation.’” 

Mia Negru, the advocacy and engagement director for the nonprofit Life With Artificials, reached out to me post-panel to share her reflections.

“If intelligent agents take on cognitive tasks and robots increasingly handle physical work, we might be on the cusp of something far greater than another technological revolution,” she conveyed in her message. “We could need to reconsider ownership, labor, democracy, economic engagement, and ultimately who gets to be part of society.” 

However, when the panels wrapped up, attendees relaxed at happy hours and rooftop soirées, where lighter conversations eventually dominated.

Lovable, Nvidia, OpenAI, AWS Startups, and HSBC collaborated to sponsor a rooftop barbecue where I conversed with founders regarding the emerging tech hubs in Denmark.

London’s Ada Ventures hosted a gathering at the cocktail bar Bird, where I spoke with a health tech founder about the surge of innovation in the women’s brain health sector. Subsequently, there was the speakers’ dinner on an island in the heart of Copenhagen where the international press gathered to enjoy fire dancers. The after-party carried on upstairs, with guests tempted to linger for one last drink until the bar tab was closed.

“In a setting filled with discussions about machines, the most unforgettable experiences still arise from the most straightforward interactions,” de Brever reflected. “Human connection, face-to-face, forging relationships, exchanging ideas, and reminding each other of what technology can never truly replace.”