How the Global Effort to Keep AI Safe Failed

The international consensus on AI regulation has dissolved as the US deregulates and Europe remains isolated with its AI Act.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 18, 2026, 8:04 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

The End of Global Cooperation

The collaborative spirit from the 2023 Bletchley Park summit has vanished. Nations now treat AI as a strategic asset like oil or semiconductors rather than a shared human risk. Speed and sovereign capabilities are the new priorities for world leaders. Geopolitical competition has replaced the initial goal of establishing universal safety standards.

United States Policy Shift

The Trump administration systematically dismantled the previous safety framework. The 2025 Winning the Race plan repealed the 2023 Executive Order on AI. Washington now views safety guardrails as obstacles to American innovation. New policies focus on slashing permit requirements for data centers and promoting rapid deployment over risk mitigation.

European Regulatory Isolation

Brussels continues to enforce the EU AI Act but faces intense internal and external criticism. European companies argue that strict compliance requirements create a Brussels Wall that hinders their ability to compete globally. The bloc struggles to maintain its rights based model while the rest of the world moves toward a deregulated market.