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Podcast: Why the UK must not make the EU’s AI ‘mistakes’ – Synthesia’s Victor Riparbelli

Synthesia UKTN Podcast

This week’s UKTN Podcast guest is Synthesia co-founder and CEO Victor Riparbelli. In this episode, Riparbelli discusses the different appeals of AI-generated video content, the importance of startups implementing strict AI safety controls, and how the UK doesn’t have to follow what he sees as the EU’s mistakes in AI regulation. 

Riparbelli founded Synthesia along with Lourdes Agapito, Matthias Neissner and Steffen Tjerrild in 2017. The London-based company uses AI to generate videos hosted by artificial avatars based on user scripts. Its technology is primarily used by more than 55,000 businesses – including half of the Fortune 100 – for corporate education and communications.

Riparbelli explains how at the time his company was founded, an AI boom much like the one occurring today was in full force, albeit with lesser technology.

The Synthesia CEO says his company has survived and thrived where others petered out because of Synthesia’s early focus on turning complex research into marketable products. Synthesia has secured more than $155m since its launch and last year reached a unicorn valuation.  

As the new Labour government begins to look at legislation to regulate AI, Riparbelli believes the EU is on the wrong path. 

“I see a big group of politicians who don’t know what they’re talking about,” he tells the UKTN Podcast. “They’re obsessed with their own ideologies and I think they’re about to make some really really bad decisions for EU over the next 10, 20, 30, 50 years.”

Listen to the full episode here, along with all previous episodes of the UKTN Podcast.

The UKTN Podcast is sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, which offers flexible banking solutions for startups, scaleups, growth businesses, investors and those working towards IPO.

Throughout the series, the UKTN Podcast speaks to some of the key movers and shakers from UK tech. We’ll learn growth strategies from both seasoned and up-and-coming founders, hear market sentiments from investors, and question policymakers on the decisions impacting the country’s innovation economy.

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