AI at a Crossroads: Navigating the 2026 Regulatory Landscape

AI governance has reached a turning point. With California’s new safety mandates, the Trump administration’s push for a single federal standard, and the EU’s risk-based AI Act nearing full implementation, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for artificial intelligence.

The German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) San Francisco invites you to a discussion from the heart of Silicon Valley. Together with experts from California and the European Union, we will explore how competing regulatory visions are reshaping innovation, public trust, and transatlantic cooperation.

This event also launches our new series “Science for Society,” which brings together European and U.S. voices to explore how research and innovation shape the future.

What We Will Discuss

The discussion will focus on three approaches to AI governance: California’s “Safety First” law, the U.S. federal government’s “Innovation First” strategy, and the EU’s risk-based AI Act. Panelists will explore the implications for innovation, public trust, and transatlantic collaboration. We will also consider questions such as:

• Can strict safety rules and rapid technological innovation coexist?

• Will U.S. companies adopt EU standards globally, or is California carving its own path?

• How do these regulations affect smaller startups and open-source developers?

• What emerging issues might change AI governance in the second half of 2026?

Program

4:30 – 5:00 PM – Arrival and Welcome

5:00 – 5:45 PM – Moderated Panel Discussion

5:45 – 6:15 PM – Audience Q&A

6:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Networking Reception

Speakers

Henriette Canino is a science and technology policy expert specializing in evidence-based AI governance, science advice, and strategic communication between researchers and decision-makers. She serves as Partnership and Impact Officer at the California Council on Science and Technology, where she builds and manages strategic relationships across the science, technology, innovation, and policy ecosystem. Dr. Canino has conducted research on responsible AI and science-policy interfaces at institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany and is co-authoring a forthcoming textbook on communicating science for policy.

Joanna Smolinska is Counsellor for Digital and Deputy Head of the European Union Office in San Francisco, where she leads outreach on EU–U.S. cooperation, particularly in tech policy and digital markets. She brings nearly 15 years of experience across key EU policy areas, including digital and green transformation, regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, and innovation ecosystems. Prior to her current role, she worked within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology and has been actively engaged in transatlantic policy and leadership initiatives.

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Host or Publisher DWIH San Francisco