That 21 billion euros for Mistral AI doesn't automatically mean the AI Act is viable for everyone else; would we still be so confident in the overall regulatory framework if this one company hadn't secured such an eye-watering valuation?
We need to look with fresh eyes at the hundreds of smaller AI businesses that don't have that kind of capital cushion.
For instance, a start-up developing accessible AI for local councils might face disproportionate compliance costs relative to their funding, making the Act a major barrier.
We can't just walk away from the fact that one big win doesn't dispose of the very real challenges for the rest.