In a race, the fast beat the safe, and AI is no exception. Europe seems to have caught on and is now killing AI-blocking regulation – just like everyone else. At last week's Paris AI summit, Ursula von der Leyen boldlyannounced that Europe is joining the AI race, declaring that "global leadership is still up for grabs.” Over in the US, Trump scrapped Biden's executive order for safe and secure AI development andannounced a €500 billion AI infrastructure project, entirely privately funded. Who needs rules when you have capital? In the UK, Keir Starmer made aU-turn to go all-in on growth after focusing on AI regulation before the election. Even the authorities meant to keep companies in check now have to meet growth targets. In "a bid to boost growth" the previous Competition and Markets Authority chair wasfired and replaced with an ex-Amazon executive after daring to investigate several AI partnerships. It’s the same story elsewhere. India, Brazil, and other non-Western countries are competing to build “warm and regulation-free” environments for AI developments, reportedRest of World. This is a classicprisoner's dilemma. In theory, the world would benefit from safer AI standards. In practice, the first country to abandon them wins. Regulate, and you get left behind. Europe got the memo. Now, it's scrambling to scale back regulations and throw money at AI development. Read more. | 