Brickken CEO Warns: Delayed AI Access May Drive Europe’s Future Tech Jobs Overseas

Edwin Mata, CEO of Brickken, has raised concerns that unequal access to three AI tools—Dots, Muse, and Siri AI—could impact the hiring and investment strategies of European companies.

According to Edwin Mata, the CEO and co-founder of Barcelona-based tokenization firm Brickken, while Europe may retain the companies originating in the region, it risks losing associated jobs, investments, and future growth.

Mata believes that for Europe to face a loss in growth potential, founders do not need to relocate entire businesses; simply hiring engineers abroad, establishing sales offices close to investors, or choosing another country for product launches could gradually shift activity away from the region.

The impact of delayed AI access on hiring choices

Mata emphasized that for founders evaluating expansion opportunities, access to premier AI tools is now as critical as funding, taxation, customer base, and hiring conditions.

A team that can test products sooner and automate more tasks in another market may decide to invest there, as he elaborated. Investors are inclined to back companies with credible growth prospects, while skilled talent gravitates towards businesses that can effectively innovate.

“Consequently, Europe might keep the original company while sacrificing much of its future hiring, investment, and value creation,” he warned.

Rather than viewing access as the sole catalyst for overseas expansion, the Brickken leader positioned it as a crucial aspect that European businesses must avoid allowing to become a liability.

He also expressed concern over the ownership of technology utilized by European firms. While acquiring foreign products is typical, long-term dependency may turn into a vulnerability, particularly if domestic players struggle to develop and scale competing solutions.

In such scenarios, Mata argued, European customers would be funding services whose profits and key business decisions reside outside the region. Successful tech firms could secure more capital, talent, and clients in their active markets, he added.

A June 29 report highlighted Austria’s proposal concerning Anthropic, in which State Secretary for Digitalization Alexander Proell urged the EU to contemplate a strategic investment in the AI entity. In his letter, Proell sought to prevent Europe from missing significant AI advancements due to decisions made beyond its borders.

In the same correspondence, the Austrian official remarked that Europe could provide legal certainty, investment opportunities, and market access, while also acknowledging practical hurdles and likely skepticism towards the initiative.

The advantages of earlier AI utilization over competitors

Beyond simply the future job landscape, Mata pointed out that delays in access come at a cost that accumulates as competitors accrue experience.

Companies leveraging tools ahead of others can transform workflows, experiment with ideas, train their workforce, and secure customers while others lag, he explained. Consequently, by the time access is granted to another region, the early adopters may develop an advantage that transcends mere speed in task completion.

“The cost is cumulative,” he remarked.

Mata highlighted the role of agents in small teams to manage research, coding, and administrative tasks efficiently. He argued that having access to such systems could significantly affect profit margins, customer retention, and a company’s competitiveness.

The executive underscored the disparities in access to Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s Dots. He noted that while Muse is accessible in the United States and Canada, European Pro subscribers lack access to Dots, which nonetheless remains available through Business Premium.

Mata urged caution against interpreting these variances as signs of regulatory bans on the products.

“These differences do not prove that regulators banned the products; they illustrate why access needs careful scrutiny,” he stated.

For American companies employing the discussed services, Mata’s argument focuses on the additional time available for experimentation prior to European competitors obtaining similar access. He connects the anticipated advantage to learning opportunities, operational shifts, and customer acquisition rather than simply an increase in revenue or productivity metrics.

AI agents can enhance operations across various sectors

Mata explored potential applications for agents tied to standard business records and operational systems outside of the tech sector.

In manufacturing, he suggested that software linked to orders, inventory, and supplier updates could identify a shortage in components and propose alternative buying options before production halts. This scenario hinges on having relevant information and effective integration between the agent and the company’s systems, he acknowledged.

For software companies, he provided examples of agents addressing customer complaints, implementing code modifications, and conducting tests for review. In agricultural settings, he mentioned that agents could analyze weather forecasts, order requests, and delivery timelines to optimize purchase and harvest logistics.

Although Mata identified potential commercial advantages in these applications, he emphasized the necessity of human oversight and appropriate integration.

His previous commentary on AI agent accountability, published on August 14, examined how firms should delineate that oversight when software is authorized to execute transactions. He maintained that accountability accompanies the authority granted to an agent, with the individual or company permitting the actions typically bearing the consequences of decisions made within that authority.

During that interview, he outlined essential elements such as permitted actions, qualified assets, spending limits, expiration dates, revocation rights, and action records. He also differentiated between an authorized transaction that incurs losses and one that exceeds the agent’s designated instructions.

Reform measures in Europe extend deadlines and streamline compliance

To enhance Europe’s appeal for business growth, Mata advocated for fewer overlapping obligations, consistent regulations across countries, and predictable decision timelines.

Small enterprises should be capable of grasping their responsibilities without needing to establish extensive compliance departments before launching a sustainable business, he stated. His proposals also included avenues for growth funding, favorable employee equity structures, streamlined recruitment processes, adequate computing resources, and economical energy solutions.

Regarding privacy, security, and accountability, Mata proposed that regulations remain proportionate to the associated risks. Safeguarding these rights should be balanced with timely access to beneficial technology, he argued.

The European Commission announced that the AI Omnibus became effective on July 27, introducing extended implementation phases, administrative modifications, and increased opportunities for AI testing under regulatory oversight. As stated by the Commission, these amendments maintain safeguards for basic rights and safety while easing compliance demands for smaller firms.

According to the published timeline from the Commission, regulations pertaining to high-risk systems in specific sectors will come into effect by December 2, 2027, while requirements for high-risk AI incorporated into regulated physical products will commence on August 2, 2028.

The Commission also indicated that the amendments expand some previously reserved support for small and medium-sized enterprises to include small mid-cap businesses, broaden access to regulatory sandboxes, and establish an EU-level sandbox for supervised testing.