Mei Muller

It's true that the AI Act's start date isn't the final word on costs, and we definitely saw a similar slow burn with GDPR's actual impact. However, with this, we're not just waiting on companies to adjust; the national supervisory authorities still need to set up their full enforcement structures, and that alone could add another 12-18 months of uncertainty before we see the real financial strain on businesses like Mistral AI.

Mistral’s growth feels like a fairytale, but we can’t forget the dragon in the room: how many startups actually get to ride in on that kind of capital? For every Mistral, there are a dozen others stuck in the mud, waiting for a clear path to even file the paperwork for a new AI product, let alone find an investor with deep enough pockets to foot the bill for their legal team and compliance audits. It’s a nice story, but it doesn't mean the rules are easy for everyone else.