Global AI law and policy trends update

The trend towards risk-based artificial intelligence legislation seems to have turned on its head. Instead of, or in addition to, focusing on managing risks to consumers, policymakers are trending to embrace AI as an economic engine of growth. This shift is evident in the EU, Japan and the U.S. where governments have reprioritized policies, proposed and rescinded legislation and increased AI-focused innovation funds.

The changing tides of policies globally, however, has a profound impact on how organizations consider their internal AI governance, especially for the higher risk AI systems. Consumer protection- and rights-focused approaches to policy, like those in some of the EU’s applicable laws, may lead to more uniform governance measures. Co-regulatory approaches, such as those implemented in Singapore, arguably leave more room for organizations to decide how they can best govern AI use and AI systems.

Recent policy updates

Various jurisdictions have or are contemplating national AI legislation. Brazil’s senate has approved legislation that will now be deliberated in the lower chamber. South Korea passed and signed the AI Basic Act into law and will provide greater regulatory guidance in 2025. Both the South Korean and Brazilian laws will regulate AI based on risk, meaning that certain use cases will be banned and others will have stricter regulatory requirements, much like the EU AI Act. Read the IAPP's full analysis of the South Korean AI Basic Act and commentary around the future of AI legislation in Latin America.