Global Leaders Are Flipping a Coin Between Chaos and Control

Ah, AI regulation—the policy battlefield where world leaders argue over who gets to set the rules and who gets to break them. The AI Action Summit in Paris was supposed to be a step toward a unified approach to AI governance. Instead, it exposed a growing global divide.

The UK and the US decided to peace out of an international AI agreement backed by 60 other countries—including France, China, and India—aimed at promoting an "open, inclusive, and ethical" AI future. (Because, sure, China is the poster child for ethical AI.)

French President Emmanuel Macron sounded the alarm:
"There's a risk some decide to have no rules, and that's dangerous. But there's also the opposite risk—if Europe gives itself too many rules."

Meanwhile, US VP JD Vance channeled his inner Silicon Valley VC and made it clear:
"AI dominance will go to those who move the fastest."

And boom—there’s your dilemma. How much AI regulation is too much? How little is too little?

Too Hot: The ‘Move Fast and Deregulate’ Approach

The US position? Speed wins. VP JD Vance, sounding like a poster child for tech-bro hustle culture, dismissed excessive caution. His stance: AI’s future won’t be won by “hand-wringing about safety” but by outpacing the competition—preferably at warp speed, ethics be damned.

Meanwhile, Silicon Valley is cheering because “regulation” is a dirty word when there are billions to be made selling AI models trained on ahem questionably obtained data.

Too Cold: The EU’s ‘Regulate Everything’ Playbook

Once upon a time, the EU’s AI Act was supposed to be the gold standard of responsible AI. Now? It's looking more like an overcooked bureaucratic casserole.
Industry leaders are freaking out about compliance costs, liability, and oversight, warning that Europe's AI talent could flee faster than you can say "Brussels regulation."

Meanwhile, China is cranking out AI models that wipe billions off US tech stock values overnight, and American firms are wondering if they should even bother playing by the rules.

Just Right? The Fantasy of Balanced AI Regulation

Is there a sweet spot between reckless AI libertarianism and regulatory gridlock? Theoretically, yes.
Realistically? Good luck getting the world’s power players to agree on it.

AI doesn’t respect borders, but governments do. And that’s a problem.

For years, US tech giants—Google, Meta, Microsoft—set the de facto rules of the internet. They dictated how data privacy, digital ads, and online speech worked long before governments even knew what was happening. AI is on the same trajectory: corporate dominance outpacing government oversight at every turn.

And now, thanks to aggressive deregulation and an outright illegal data grab from US government agencies, we’re not just looking at an AI gold rush—we’re looking at an AI Wild West, where rules are optional, and ethics are a punchline.

The AI regulation clock is ticking.

The pro-deregulation camp wants to sprint ahead and let the chips fall where they may. The pro-regulation camp is trying to stop a runaway train while being called “anti-innovation.” Meanwhile, Big Tech is cashing in and hoping lawmakers stay confused and complacent.

AI Policy: What Happens When Global Leaders Can’t Even Pretend to Agree?

The UK and US bailed on an international AI agreement signed by 60 countries at the Paris AI Action Summit.
The statement—endorsed by France, China, and India—was full of warm, fuzzy buzzwords like “open,” “inclusive,” and “ethical” AI, focusing on accessibility, security, and sustainability.

So why did the UK and US opt out?

• The UK cited “national security” concerns (translation: “We don’t want international rules cramping our AI ambitions”).

• The US argued that excessive regulation could cripple innovation (translation: “Our tech billionaires want free rein to experiment on society, and we’re cool with that”).

• VP JD Vance’s stance: AI is a race, and slowing down for safety checks is for losers.

But wait—didn’t the UK just host the 2023 AI Safety Summit and talk a big game about AI ethics? Yep. And now they’re backtracking, because apparently, committing to AI safety is harder than hosting a summit about it.

So what’s next for AI regulation?

• The UK still signed separate agreements on AI sustainability and cybersecurity (so they care, just not too much).

• UKAI, a national AI trade group, cheered the move—because flexible AI policies = looser oversight = cha-ching.

• Meanwhile, AI’s energy consumption is surging, trade tensions over AI are heating up, and Europe is looking at the UK like an ex who just ghosted them after a big commitment.

The AI Free-for-All: Who’s Really in Control?

Global AI agreement? More like a group project where half the class didn’t bother to show up.

Tech bros are running AI like it’s their personal playground, while lawmakers—many of whom barely understand WiFi—are waving through deregulation like it’s Black Friday at Best Buy.

And here’s the real kicker: Consumers have power.

• We choose what AI tools we use.

• We decide which companies get our data.

• We demand regulation when Big Tech tries to sell us their “trust us” nonsense.

If governments won’t step up, alt-tech companies with ethical missions have to. The AI landscape shouldn’t be dictated by who moves the fastest—it should be shaped by who moves the smartest.

So, do we demand AI regulation before it’s too late? Or do we let the tech bros continue their high-speed joyride into the unknown?

Your move, humanity.

About the Author

Curt Doty, founder of CurtDoty.co, is an award winning creative director whose legacy lies in branding, product development, social strategy, integrated marketing, and User Experience Design. His work of entertainment branding includes Electronic Arts, EA Sports, ProSieben, SAT.1, WBTV Latin America, Discovery Health, ABC, CBS, A&E, StarTV, Fox, Kabel 1, and TV Guide Channel.

He has extensive experience on AI-driven platforms MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Murf.ai, HeyGen, and DALL-E. He now runs his AI consultancy RealmIQ and companion podcast RealmIQ: Sessions on YouTube and Spotify.

He is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Streaming Media NYC, Digital Hollywood, Mobile Growth Association, Mobile Congress, App Growth Summit, Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, Santa Fe Business Incubator, EntrepeneursRx, Davos Worldwide and AI Impact. He has lectured at universities including Full Sail, SCAD, Art Center College of Design, CSUN and Chapman University.

He currently serves on the board of the Godfrey Reggio Foundation, an AI consultant for DMS+ and is the AI Writer for Parlay Me.