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🎬 Premiere: The Global AI Race, Regulation, and Power
Today is the official premiere of my much-anticipated talk with Anu Bradford (nearly 900 people registered for the live event). Paid subscribers can enjoy the full 57-minute recording (above), and free subscribers can watch a 9-minute preview. Don't miss it!
Anu Bradford is a professor of law and international organizations at Columbia University and a leading scholar on global economy and digital regulation. She coined the term 'Brussels Effect'—often discussed in the context of AI regulation—and published a book with the same name.
More recently, she published the book "Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology," where she explores the global battle among the three dominant digital powers―the U.S., China, and the EU―and the choices we face as societies and individuals.
This was an extremely interesting conversation and a must-watch for everyone in AI governance. These are the topics we spoke about:
Her new book (starting at 1:15)
Anu explained the main ideas behind her latest book, “Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology,” and what motivated her to write it.
Her book was my 13th AI Book Club recommendation (2,200+ members get my biweekly recommendations—join here). It's a must-read to understand the current AI regulation landscape, which is deeply intertwined with market pressures and geopolitical battles.
The Brussels Effect in the context of AI regulation (starting at 5:44)
Anu explained the two types of Brussels Effect (de facto and de jure), how they manifest in practice, and whether we are already seeing—or will see—the Brussels Effect in the context of AI regulation.
I've asked all my previous guests whether the Brussels Effect that shaped the field of data protection will also apply to AI. If you’ve been following this newsletter, especially recent editions on South Korea and Brazil’s AI laws, you know what I think. It was great to hear from Anu—the very person who coined the term Brussels Effect—share her thoughts on this topic.
The Brussels Effect in AI through data protection enforcement (starting at 15:44)
I asked her opinion on the ongoing wave of investigations into DeepSeek by EU data protection authorities and whether this could be seen as an indirect manifestation of the Brussels Effect.
As I've noted before in the newsletter, DeepSeek has not only shaken the U.S. stock market but also EU data protection enforcement, making it clear that geopolitics play a significant role. You can read more about this in my recent articles on DeepSeek and data protection, such as The GDPR is Shaping the AI Race, DeepSeek's Legal Pitfalls, and The DeepSeek Effect.
China, U.S., and the EU's AI regulation strategy (starting at 19:26)
I asked Anu about the three digital empires—China, the U.S., and the EU, according to her latest book—and how we should assess their approach to AI regulation in the context of the AI race.
Her response is particularly insightful and helps us understand where we stand today, especially after recent statements from the AI Summit in Paris (which I covered here: The AI Governance Tornado).
The regulation vs. innovation debate (starting at 34:02)
We discussed this in the context of the EU's current situation—facing both internal and external pressures—and in light of recent remarks from the AI Summit and the withdrawal of the AI Liability Directive.
This is another must-watch part of the conversation, where we explore the latest developments in the AI race. Anu shares her perspective on what’s happening in the EU right now and what it should focus on to remain relevant.
Can the three digital empires coexist in AI? (starting at 42:54)
I brought up the topic of EU data protection authorities’ investigations against DeepSeek and asked Anu if she thinks that the AI race reveals a fundamental legal tension between the three digital empires—China, the U.S., and the EU.
To understand the interplay of legal and geopolitical arguments in the DeepSeek investigations and the AI race, read last week's edition of the newsletter: The AI Governance Tornado.
What will her next book be about (starting at 53:56)
Anu is a pioneer in digital regulation and has anticipated much of what we're now seeing in the context of AI regulation and the AI race. She shared her thoughts on these developments and what might potentially be the topic of her next book.
This was an extremely interesting conversation, where we analyzed recent events in the AI race through legal, regulatory, and geopolitical lenses.
Everybody in AI should watch it! Paid subscribers can enjoy the full 57-minute recording (above), and free subscribers can watch a 9-minute preview. Don't miss it!
