Nando de Freitas slams BBC AI doom coverage, backs UK open letter to ban non-competes
NandoDF · x · 2026-09-30
Former DeepMind researcher Nando de Freitas quoted a BBC report on a UK minister warning of 'unprecedented' AI job losses, arguing the BBC should live up to its public-interest mission instead of amplifying AI doom stories, and that sovereign AI is in Britain's interest.
He also amplified an open letter, 'Free to Start and Scale,' arguing that outdated employment practices—lengthy notice periods, non-competes, garden leave—are trapping UK startup talent. The letter warns that banning non-competes alone could push companies toward other restrictive clauses, and calls on the UK government to ban long post-termination restrictions and limit extended notice periods, citing California-style labor mobility as key to tech growth. It is open for founders, executives, and investors to sign.
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