Executives from Google and Meta criticized the European Union’s strict AI regulations at the Techarena tech conference in Stockholm.

They argued that compliance requirements, including the GDPR and the proposed AI Act, are delaying innovation and product rollouts in Europe.

Meta’s Chris Yiu cited challenges in launching AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta glasses, while Google DeepMind’s Dorothy Chou noted that the AI Act was drafted before key advancements like ChatGPT.

The AI Act, proposed in 2021, aims to regulate AI within the EU, but major tech firms warn it could stifle growth.

European venture capitalists also called for simpler, more unified rules, suggesting a “28th regime” to streamline compliance and attract talent.

Critics argue that the EU’s regulatory approach may hinder Europe’s technological progress.