Mistral AI's massive valuation is a great win for them, but it doesn't automatically mean the entire AI Act is suddenly viable for every other business.
Would we be giving this debate so much weight if Mistral hadn't made the news, or would we have looked at the AI Act's practical impact on smaller UK startups struggling with compliance costs?
It feels like chasing a losing idea just because a big name has invested attention.
We need to walk away from the notion that one success story validates a whole regulatory framework.
For example, a small developer in Manchester trying to comply with strict data requirements might find the act completely unworkable, regardless of Mistral's billions.