The Fault Lines of AI Safety

Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 1PM ET

Artificial intelligence safety has become one of the most contested issues in technology policy, propelled to the forefront of public debate by the rapid development of increasingly powerful AI models in the United States and China. The term “AI safety” has become a political Rorschach test. Depending on whom you ask, it means guarding against existential threats, protecting children and workers, defending national security, or avoiding regulations that could slow innovation.

Join POLITICO’s AI reporters for a conversation about the competing visions shaping the future of AI policy. We’ll explore the factions driving the debate in Washington and Silicon Valley and examine what shifting alliances across industry and the Trump administration mean for regulation of the technology.