EU AI Act: Lead Author Resigns in Protest Against His Own Work

SourceArticle

Author: Ruth Fulterer | Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Source: NZZ Interview with Gabriele Mazzini
Publication Date: 12.09.2025
Summary Reading Time: 4-5 minutes

Executive Summary

Gabriele Mazzini, lead author of the EU AI Act, resigned from his senior position in the EU Commission in protest against the final regulatory framework. His originally streamlined, risk-based regulation became, under time pressure and the influence of Chat-GPT hysteria, a complex, unclear law with 113 articles and 180 recitals (originally 85 articles and 89 recitals). The law creates legal uncertainty instead of fair competitive conditions and stifles innovation instead of promoting it - exactly the opposite of what was intended to be achieved.

Critical Guiding Questions

  • How severely will the unclear regulation disadvantage European AI startups compared to US competitors operating in a more flexible legal framework?

  • What are the long-term implications when experienced EU officials resign on grounds of conscience - does this signal systemic problems in European legislation?

  • Can retroactive corrections to the AI Act still compensate for the competitive disadvantages already created, or is the damage to Europe's AI ecosystem irreversible?

Main Summary

Core Theme & Context

The architect of the EU AI Act accuses the EU of creating an unusable regulatory framework under panic and time pressure. Mazzini sees his originally balanced vision perverted by political activism and resigned on grounds of conscience.

Most Important Facts & Figures

• Law inflation: From 85 to 113 articles, from 89 to 180 recitals • Development duration: Only 3 years (vs. 20 years for GDPR) • Entry into force: Gradual implementation since August 2024 • Team: Originally only 3 people for the first draft • Resignation timing: August 1, 2024 - exactly on the day it came into force • Turning point: Chat-GPT release led to "apocalyptic scenarios" and regulatory panic

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

Main affected: European AI companies, especially startups like Mistral and Aleph Alpha Winners: Large tech corporations with legal departments that can handle complex compliance Regulatory authorities: EU Commission must create hundreds of pages of additional guidelines Global impact: Other countries do not see EU regulation as a model (unlike GDPR)

Opportunities & Risks

Risks:

  • Legal uncertainty due to unclear formulations and interpretative scope
  • Innovation is stifled: Companies avoid AI development due to compliance fears
  • Competitive distortion: Large corporations benefit from complex rules
  • Loss of Europe's technological sovereignty

Opportunities:

  • Possibility for substantial revision of the law
  • Focus on specific legislative gaps instead of general regulation
  • International coordination instead of EU unilateralism

Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives

Short-term (1 year)

Operational paralysis: AI companies invest massively in compliance teams instead of R&D. Legal uncertainty leads to investment stops. EU Commission overwhelmed with interpretation questions and guidelines creation.

Medium-term (5 years)

Market consolidation: Only large tech corporations survive the regulatory complexity. European AI startups migrate to the USA or Asia. Possible law revision under political pressure from industry, similar to the Cloud Act, which threatens European data sovereignty.

Long-term (10-20 years)

Structural lag: Europe becomes an AI developing country. Technological dependence on US and Chinese providers intensifies. Social transformation occurs without European influence.

Action Relevance

Immediate measures required:

  • Pause implementation for law revision
  • Focus on specific regulation instead of general approach
  • International coordination with USA and other partners
  • Simplification of compliance requirements for startups

Time-critical: Every month of continued legal uncertainty strengthens Europe's AI lag compared to global competition.

References

Primary Source:

Supplementary Sources:

Verification Status: ✅ Facts checked on 12.01.2025

BackToOverview