Page 51 - The Annual AI Governance Report 2025 Steering the Future of AI

The Annual AI Governance Report 2025: Steering the Future of AI

Figure 4: (left) Jūratė Šovienė, Chair of the Council, The Communications Regulatory
Authority of the Republic of Lithuania (RRT); Ebtesam Almazrouei, Executive Director
of the Office of AI and Advanced Technology at the Department of Finance, CEO and
Founder of AIE3, Chairperson of UN AI for Good Impact Initiative

The appetite for increasingly powerful AI is enormous, not only among developers racing
to push the boundaries of capability, but also on the demand side where many individuals,
businesses, and governments are experimenting with the latest tools, ranging from highly
practical applications to playful or exploratory ones, as well as areas where the risks and
benefits are not yet well understood, such as using chatbots as digital companions or sources
of emotional and mental health support.

This rapid cycle of innovation has created extraordinary momentum.

Many celebrate AI’s capacity to unlock new opportunities and drive economic growth, and worry
that regulation, if poorly designed or prematurely imposed, could slow progress and restrict
the benefits that AI promises to deliver. “Regulation stifles innovation” may arguably be the
most prominent slogan in governance debates.

Jennifer Bachus (then-Acting Head of Bureau, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, USA)
expressed deep concern that AI governance could stifle innovation. Anne Bouverot, Special
Envoy of France for AI, also called out for a stronger focus on innovation. Professor Daniela Rus
(Director, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT) proposed AI stewardship
as a commitment to guide AI wisely, prioritizing innovation while maximizing positive impacts,
minimizing harm, and ensuring ethical deployment.

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