Well, if the Americans are dragging their feet, the Europeans are racing ahead. The EU on Tuesday officially endorsed a landmark law that aims to protect societies from possible AI harms while still encouraging innovation in the sector.
How does it work? It ranks the risks posed by different AI applications, and subjects those in the highest category – for example, critical infrastructure, education, law enforcement, or product safety – to strict oversight of their datasets and algorithms. Violations will incur hefty fines.
Most consumer uses of AI, meanwhile, fall into lower or no-risk categories, which will see a lighter touch. So you can, without oversight, ask an AI to make you a Vermeer-style image of Rudy Giuliani riding a tricycle made of peacock feathers through a sea of Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp (try it.)
This isn’t just a technology law, it’s a geopolitical play. While the US and China battle for AI supremacy, the EU – lacking tech giants of its own but boasting the world’s largest market of affluent consumers – is trying to carve out a role as a leader in sensible AI regulation. Since global tech companies often avoid regulatory headaches by simply following the strictest regulatory standard among various markets, Brussels is betting its strong laws will shape global practices.At the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Tony Maciulis speaks with Tonee Ndungu, a Kenyan entrepreneur who helped launch one of the tech hubs that became a baseline for what is now known as Silicon Savannah. Ndungu explains how growing up with dyslexia and ADHD shaped his focus on inclusion, and why he sees technology as a bridge that can help people move beyond the limits they have been told about themselves.
Artificial intelligence has enormous potential, but only if people can actually access it.
Speaking at the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock argues that AI should not be viewed as a cure-all for global development. Without reliable internet, telecommunications infrastructure, and access to basic technology, even the most advanced AI tools cannot reach the communities that need them most.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Speaking at the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith explains how AI combines predictive modeling, satellite imagery, and public data to help governments identify vulnerable communities before disasters strike and respond more quickly when they do.
Graham Platner is out of Maine's Senate race. That may improve Democrats' chance of defeating Republican Susan Collins—but it doesn't guarantee it. In the latest episode of the GZERO Debrief, Eurasia Group US Practice Head Clayton Allen says Democrats may be better off than they were a week ago, but Republicans remain the favorites to hold the Senate seat.