EUVC E651 | This Week in European Tech: Exit Taxes, AI Reality Checks & The New Tech Sovereignty Race
Nov 17, 2025
The hosts tackle the UK’s abrupt exit tax decision and its potential impact on entrepreneurs. They delve into the reality of enterprise AI, questioning why progress lags behind hype. A spotlight shines on Europe's dependence on Chinese chip packaging and the urgent implications for the automotive supply chain. The discussion also covers market tremors led by Nvidia, the threat posed by Chinese open-source AI models, and the chilling discovery of remote kill-switches in buses. Lastly, the tech sovereignty debate heats up as Europe seeks supply-chain independence.
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Episode notes
Exit Taxes Drive Founders Away
- Exit taxes that tax unrealized gains when founders leave a country deter entrepreneurs and push them to relocate.
- Mads Jensen argues the UK shelved the idea because it would harm being a talent magnet and stifle startup formation.
Enterprise AI Adoption Lags Hype
- McKinsey finds almost every large company claims to use AI but only a tiny fraction see meaningful impact.
- Lomax Ward highlights that only about 1% of companies report mature AI deployment, implying long runway for adoption.
Automotive Supply Has A Short Fragility Window
- Europe depends on Asian finishing and packaging for many basic automotive semiconductors, creating supply fragility.
- Mads Jensen warns automotive lines have only a four–six week buffer before production halts.
