Dutch Tech Unicorn Bird Exits Europe, Citing AI Regulation Concerns

Dutch software firm Bird to leave Europe due to onerous regulations in AI era, says CEO

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Cloud communications software firm Bird, one of the Netherlands' most prominent tech startups, plans to move most of its operations out of Europe, its CEO said, citing restrictive regulations and difficulties hiring skilled technology workers. "We are mostly leaving Europe as it lacks the environment we need to innovate in an AI-first era of technology," CEO Robert Vis told Reuters on Monday. "We foresee that regulations in Europe will block true innovation in a global economy moving extremely fast to AI," he said in a text message response to Reuters queries. Bird's operations in future will be mostly split between New York, Singapore and Dubai, he said. Vis first announced the move abroad in a LinkedIn post over the weekend. Bird, formerly known as Message Bird, was founded in Amsterdam in 2011. It is a competitor of U.S.-based Twilio in the market for helping companies manage their communications with consumers across digital mediums such as messaging, email and video apps. It says it has developed an AI-powered platform that automates and streamlines business operations across entire organizations including tech leaders. Last year the European Union introduced the world's first comprehensive set of rules regulating the use of artificial intelligence, drawing criticism from the United States that European regulations could strangle development of the technology. Vis said Bird will no longer have a single operational headquarters. In Europe, the company will retain an office in Lithuania and the company's tax base will continue to be the Netherlands for the time being. Bird reported a 17 million euro ($17.80 million) net profit in 2023 on sales of 555 million euros, according to its most recent filing with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. ($1 = 0.9552 euros) (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Susan Fenton)

Dutch Software Firm Bird to Leave Europe Due to Onerous Regulations in AI Era, Says CEO

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Cloud communications software firm Bird, one of the Netherlands' most prominent tech startups, plans to move most of its operations out of Europe, its CEO said, citing restrictive regulations and difficulties hiring skilled technology workers. "We are mostly leaving Europe as it lacks the environment we need to innovate in an AI-first era of technology," CEO Robert Vis told Reuters on Monday. "We foresee that regulations in Europe will block true innovation in a global economy moving extremely fast to AI," he said in a text message response to Reuters queries. Bird's operations in future will be mostly split between New York, Singapore and Dubai, he said. Vis first announced the move abroad in a LinkedIn post over the weekend. Bird, formerly known as Message Bird, was founded in Amsterdam in 2011. It is a competitor of U.S.-based Twilio in the market for helping companies manage their communications with consumers across digital mediums such as messaging, email and video apps. It says it has developed an AI-powered platform that automates and streamlines business operations across entire organizations including tech leaders. Last year the European Union introduced the world's first comprehensive set of rules regulating the use of artificial intelligence, drawing criticism from the United States that European regulations could strangle development of the technology. Vis said Bird will no longer have a single operational headquarters. In Europe, the company will retain an office in Lithuania and the company's tax base will continue to be the Netherlands for the time being. Bird reported a 17 million euro ($17.80 million) net profit in 2023 on sales of 555 million euros, according to its most recent filing with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. ($1 = 0.9552 euros) (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Susan Fenton)

Dutch software firm Bird to leave Europe due to onerous regulations in AI era, says CEO

AMSTERDAM, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Cloud communications software firm Bird, one of the Netherlands' most prominent tech startups, plans to move most of its operations out of Europe, its CEO said, citing restrictive regulations and difficulties hiring skilled technology workers. "We are mostly leaving Europe as it lacks the environment we need to innovate in an AI-first era of technology," CEO Robert Vis told Reuters on Monday. "We foresee that regulations in Europe will block true innovation in a global economy moving extremely fast to AI," he said in a text message response to Reuters queries. Bird's operations in future will be mostly split between New York, Singapore and Dubai, he said. Vis first announced the move abroad in a LinkedIn post over the weekend. Bird, formerly known as Message Bird, was founded in Amsterdam in 2011. It is a competitor of U.S.-based Twilio (TWLO.N), opens new tab in the market for helping companies manage their communications with consumers across digital mediums such as messaging, email and video apps. It says it has developed an AI-powered platform that automates and streamlines business operations across entire organizations including tech leaders. Last year the European Union introduced the world's first comprehensive set of rules regulating the use of artificial intelligence, drawing criticism from the United States that European regulations could strangle development of the technology. Vis said Bird will no longer have a single operational headquarters. In Europe, the company will retain an office in Lithuania and the company's tax base will continue to be the Netherlands for the time being. Bird reported a 17 million euro ($17.80 million) net profit in 2023 on sales of 555 million euros, according to its most recent filing with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. ($1 = 0.9552 euros) Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Susan Fenton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Dutch unicorn Bird flees 'overregulated' EU for 'global hubs' -- and a meditation retreat

Dutch software firm Bird is moving most of its operations out of the Netherlands and opening new global hubs as it seeks a reprieve from "overregulation" in Europe, said co-founder and CEO Robert Vis. "The AI Act, financing, compensation, taxes, employment law -- starting and running a company [in Europe] is hard," Vis told TNW, adding that there are "too many disparate markets that are overregulated with no clear vision for the future while the world around us is changing." Bird (formerly MessageBird) is one of the Netherlands' leading tech scaleups, reaching unicorn status in 2018. Bird's main product is a cloud-based platform that manages customer communications across messaging apps, calls, video, SMS, and email. The company also recently launched a new "AI employee" chatbot, which handles tasks such as responding to customer inquiries, qualifying leads, and providing personalised support. Vis is now looking overseas to fuel the company's next advances. "Both The Hague and Brussels enjoy being in meetings and talking more than they get shit done," Vis said, adding that EU policymakers are "killing innovation." Amsterdam-based Bird will now open up three new offices in the US, and one each in Singapore, Dubai, and Istanbul. It will also open a "meditation, rejuvenation, and health centre" in Thailand for its employees, Vis said in a LinkedIn post. Nevertheless, Bird will maintain an office in Lithuania and keep its tax base in the Netherlands for now -- so it's not leaving the EU entirely. Earlier this month, Bird cut 120 jobs -- roughly one-third of its total workforce, which is mainly based in Europe. New AI tools contributed to the staff cuts, said Vis, but it was also an effort to "position our teams closer to our customers" in the "Americas and Asia," he told TechCrunch. The news comes as the EU pushes ahead with its landmark AI Act, which entered force last year. The act lays out a rulebook for governing AI based on risk levels, designed to ensure the technology is deployed safely, transparently, and ethically. The US, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. While the EU imposes strict rules, the Trump administration is removing AI restrictions and giving tech sector leaders such as Elon Musk prominent roles in government. "There is no stopping this technology whether we like it or not," said Vis. "Whatever the future will hold -- if you want to compete you need to be liberal not restrictive."