BONUS: The AI bubble, deepfakes and the future of UK tech

2026-07-08

Download

Is the AI bubble bound to pop? How can UK companies prevent the malicious use of AI? And is there a role for increased regulation in the AI industry?In this bonus episode of The Business, Synthesia CEO and co-founder Victor Riparbelli joins Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times, to discuss the company's success in a world of rapidly growing AI companies, the role he thinks regulation should play in AI-generated content, and what the next chancellor should prioritise to strengthen the UK tech industry and...

Is the AI bubble bound to pop? How can UK companies prevent the malicious use of AI? And is there a role for increased regulation in the AI industry?

In this bonus episode of The Business, Synthesia CEO and co-founder Victor Riparbelli joins Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times, to discuss the company's success in a world of rapidly growing AI companies, the role he thinks regulation should play in AI-generated content, and what the next chancellor should prioritise to strengthen the UK tech industry and boost the UK economy.

Synthesia - the AI video generation platform that allows users to create realistic avatars from plain text - is one of the UK's biggest AI success stories, with a current valuation of $4 billion.

Headquartered in London, the company is used by 90% of Fortune 100 companies and 70% of the FTSE100, making it one of the most influential businesses shaping the future of enterprise AI.

Riparbelli explains why he believes AI is more than just another technology bubble, despite sky-high valuations across the sector, and why he expects the industry to experience a period of consolidation rather than collapse. He also discusses the rise of deepfakes, the challenges AI poses for businesses and consumers, and why regulation should focus on preventing harmful outcomes without stifling innovation.

The conversation also explores what policymakers can do to attract talent, encourage entrepreneurship and support the next generation of British technology companies. Riparbelli shares his views on AI adoption across Europe, why the UK must move faster to embrace new technology, and how stronger AI adoption could improve productivity and help drive long-term growth across the UK economy.

To hear more about the young entrepreneur Victor Riparbelli and the story behind Synthesia, listen to last week's episode here: https://pod.fo/e/440334

Guest: