Expert comment: calling for global AI legislation at the AI Action Summit

“The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris marks a crucial moment in global AI governance, bringing together 80 nations to address the growing influence of the technology. However, the future of AI regulation remains uncertain, caught between national interests, corporate power, and the urgent need for global cooperation.

“Governments play a key role in AI oversight, but private companies, often ahead of regulators, are driving innovation at an unprecedented pace. China’s rapid deployment of DeepSeek AI has already disrupted financial markets, while Europe’s regulatory leadership through the EU AI Act risks stifling homegrown AI innovation. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to prioritise corporate led development, with major investments such as the proposed Stargate initiative set to accelerate AI infrastructure growth. While this approach can drive economic expansion, it raises concerns about monopolisation, data privacy, and equitable access.

“The danger lies in AI governance being dictated by the most powerful actors rather than through an inclusive, globally representative framework. The world cannot afford an unregulated AI arms race nor a fragmented system where conflicting national policies hinder progress. Instead, governments, industry leaders and global institutions must work together to develop an adaptable and sustainable regulatory model—one that ensures fairness, transparency, and accountability without stifling innovation.

“A legally binding international AI framework is urgently needed. Without coordinated action, AI regulation will remain reactionary, leaving societies vulnerable to unchecked corporate dominance or state control. Paris must not be another diplomatic discussion, but the starting point for real, enforceable global AI legislation.”