Dutch Prince Warns Europe Against Over-Restricting AI, Urges Focus on Innovation

Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands has cautioned that Europe risks falling behind the U.S. and China in the artificial intelligence race due to over-restrictive regulations.

Speaking to CNBC at the Money 20/20 fintech conference in Amsterdam, Prince Constantijn emphasized that Europe’s ambition seems limited to regulatory excellence. As the special envoy of the Dutch startup accelerator Techleap, he works to help local startups grow internationally by improving their access to capital, markets, talent, and technologies.

“We’ve seen this in the data space [with GDPR], the platform space, and now with AI,” Constantijn noted, referencing the European Union’s stringent regulatory approach to artificial intelligence. While acknowledging the importance of guardrails to ensure clarity and predictability, he highlighted the challenges of regulating a fast-evolving field like AI.

Constantijn drew parallels to Europe’s experience with genetically modified organisms, where strict regulations stifled development within Europe, leading to the continent becoming consumers rather than producers. He expressed concern that similar restrictions on data, particularly in health and medical science, could hinder innovation in AI.

Prince Constantijn’s message underscores the need for a balanced approach that promotes both safety and innovation, ensuring that Europe remains competitive in the global AI landscape.