Entrepreneurs, not just legislation, must take on the AI giants

This opinion piece argues that Denmark and Europe need entrepreneurs building competitive alternatives to the American AI giants, rather than relying on regulation alone. The title is in English, but the text of the excerpt is in Danish.

The author points to Flimmer as an example of what is needed. It is a Danish video and social app designed as a safe alternative to YouTube for children aged 6 to 12. It was co-founded by Rasmus Kolbe, whom many children know as "Lakserytteren", and TV2 has recently invested money in the company. The author says this is exactly the kind of startup the country needs far more of.

The author also draws on personal experience. In 2018 they co-founded JumpStory, which they describe as Denmark's first international generative AI company. Over the next six years it raised almost 30 million in funding and built a platform that turns prompts into images and photos.

The central problem, as the author frames it, is investor incentives. Why back a Danish or European AI platform that carries a high risk profile and heavy compliance requirements, when you can throw billions at an American giant that "barrels ahead without moral brakes"?

The author says this leaves Denmark and Europe in a deep crisis. Europe can regulate as much as it likes within its own borders, but to really help the world it must offer alternatives of such high quality that global users choose them because they are simply better, not out of duty.

Only an excerpt of the article is available, so the full argument and any further examples are not covered here.