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Despite numerous AI-related bills being considered by Congress these past years, there are currently no comprehensive federal legislation or regulations in the U.S. that govern the development or use of AI technologies. In this context, U.S. states have stepped in to regulate AI through broad legislation or targeted policies for specific applications, creating a complex and evolving patchwork of laws that businesses and consumers must navigate. To what extent can this fragmented approach drive or hinder innovation? What can alleviate uncertainty for businesses, including SMBs and consumers? How will these diverse state laws inform and influence federal action? Can bipartisan consensus on AI-related issues be found in Congress to enact a comprehensive federal AI law that unifies a U.S. approach to AI governance, innovation, and adoption, positioning the country to lead confidently at home and on the global stage?

Key topics for discussion:

• The evolving role of state governments in AI regulation, the implications of this growing patchwork for companies, consumers, and innovation
• How state-led initiatives may serve as a blueprint for federal action
• The extent to which the right balance can be struck between national consistency and state-level flexibility and the implications for consumers and businesses (including SMBs)
• Potential areas for bipartisan consensus on AI-related issues at the Federal level by assessing the findings of the Bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Task Force report released in December 2024 – and explore the next steps
• How policymakers can create a coherent and comprehensive framework that fosters innovation while mitigating risk and help maintain U.S. competitiveness on the global stage

The United States stands at the cusp of a transformative AI revolution but realizing the technology’s full potential hinges on a robust infrastructure. With AI compute demand far outpacing supply, a strategic approach is essential to maximize access, encourage innovation, and solidify America’s leadership in AI. This session will explore how the United States addresses the massive infrastructure requirements for current and next-generation AI developments, discussing the investments needed to expand AI compute capacity, strengthen digital infrastructure, and ensure a stable and affordable energy supply. It will analyze strategies for expanding domestic AI compute infrastructure – including initiatives like the $500 billion Stargate project for AI data centers – by examining approaches to building secure, high-performance computing environments that can handle intensive AI workloads while ensuring equitable access for startups, researchers, and businesses of all sizes.

Key topics of discussion to explore:

• Strategies for scaling domestic AI compute infrastructure and ensuring equitable access for startups, researchers, and businesses.
• What needs to be done to accelerate data center construction, grid connectivity, and energy reliability to meet growing AI demands.
• How federal and private sector investments—such as the $500 billion Stargate initiative—will reshape the US AI infrastructure.
• The impact of decentralized digital infrastructure, including edge computing, in supporting AI growth and enabling new applications
• Expanding AI infrastructure investment globally to enhance U.S. technological influence and competitiveness.
• Advancing sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions to power AI workloads.

As AI systems evolve rapidly and regulatory landscapes shift, organizations need to remain proactive when it comes to implementing strategies to enable innovation to flourish. This session will convene industry leaders, public sector agencies, and governance experts to explore how AI is being deployed responsibly and at scale across various sectors and what more can be done to unlock the transformative potential of AI for economic growth and societal benefit. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, the discussion will highlight key success factors, challenges, and strategies for AI development and adoption considering evolving regulatory and market dynamics.

Key topics of discussion to explore:

• Diverse examples of AI implementation across various sectors, highlighting the challenges and successes of AI adoption
• Insights into creating effective AI governance policies that integrate sectoral regulatory compliance and business needs into AI system development and deployment.
• The importance of defining clear roles within the AI ecosystem and value chain
• Emerging AI trends – including AI as a Service (AIaaS), open-source tools, and the rise of AI agents – and how these trends are reshaping governance strategies
• How to best support SMBs and startups in leveraging AI responsibly and effectively
• Strategies for AI excellence, including talent development, R&D initiatives
• Overview of the anticipated evolution of AI systems in both the medium and long term and the crucial role of foresight in helping policymakers anticipate and keep pace with technological development

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way we live, promising increased productivity, innovative solutions to every-day challenges, and enhanced customer experiences. Its benefits are manifold, providing public and private organizations with valuable insights to improve products and services and to address socio-economic issues, but a lack of trust from individuals, the patchwork of regulations and concerns around the impacts on the workforce have affected the public’s acceptance of the technology. This session will discuss the critical intersection of AI’s transformative potential in every aspect of our lives and of the crucial need for public trust and acceptance to build a future where AI benefits all of society.

Key topics of discussion to explore:

• The importance of implementing AI practices that drive innovation while maintaining public confidence
• Issues around transparency, bias, privacy, data misuse, ethical AI deployment, intellectual property, freedom of expression and legal accountability
• How organizations can leverage AI to empower workers and retain talent.
• How concerns about job displacement be best addressed and exploring strategies for reskilling and upskilling the workforce to adapt to the changing demands of an AI-driven economy
• How AI initiatives that are aligned with key local industries can equitably scale the training of a specialized AI-skilled workforce
• Ensuring AI benefits are distributed to communities nationwide

The race for global AI leadership has intensified as AI continues to reshape economies and national security landscapes. U.S. export control policies, designed to limit the diffusion of advanced AI technologies to strategic competitors like China and Russia, are meant to safeguard national security but may also pose challenges to U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and to its cooperation with allies. How are geopolitics, national security concerns and economic competitiveness driving policy decisions and shaping the global AI landscape?

Key topics for discussion:

• How the U.S. can balance national security with economic leadership while fostering a trusted, innovation-driven AI ecosystem.
• How geopolitics affects AI development and governance, the extent to which AI is central to competition between China and the US (and its allies), and the geopolitical aspirations of middle powers.
• The strategic implications of AI export restrictions for U.S. businesses and allies
• China’s response to AI export controls and rapid advancements in efficient AI training methods (DeepSeek’s implications – Are current export control frameworks, designed to limit access to advanced AI chips and technologies, truly effective in achieving their national security goals? Do they inadvertently stimulate innovation in competitor nations?)
• The impact of other regional initiatives, like the EU AI Act, which implements strict AI measures for responsible AI development and deployment

As AI technologies continue to transform societies worldwide, now is a crucial time for the US to strategically position itself within the evolving global AI governance ecosystem. This session will examine how the US can balance technological leadership with collaborative approaches that build trust, foster interoperability, and ensure inclusive development of AI governance frameworks that benefit humanity globally. It will explore the evolving global AI landscape and how the United States can effectively inform and shape global AI cooperation.

Key topics for discussion:

• The expectations of the international community regarding the US’s role in global AI governance
• Strategies for balancing US technological leadership with the necessity of fostering trust and interoperability within emerging international frameworks.
• How the US can effectively engage in the growing ecosystem of international AI governance initiatives – including the UN, regional bodies and other international fora (G7, G20, OECD) – navigate the diverse requirements and interrelationships between these initiatives and develop cooperation mechanisms
• Engaging and strengthening relationships with emerging powers in AI governance, moving beyond competition, to identify opportunities for collaboration in AI development, deployment and adoption
• Building trust through transparent technological exchange and democratizing access to AI standards development – emphasizing the need for broadening access for governments, industry, and civil society, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to strengthen the legitimacy of these standards and ensure they respond to differing AI needs.
• Supporting AI development in emerging economies through engagement with international organizations such as the OAS, and the Inter-American Development Bank to drive AI capacity-building to ensure a truly global and representative approach to AI governance.
• The strategic implications of responsibly exporting AI models to allies and partners to foster their own AI ecosystems