Opening sessions in London brought together UK, EU and US perspectives on how regulators can protect the public, support innovation and enforce safeguards as AI adoption accelerates. Lord Chris Holmes of Richmond called for coordinated regulatory oversight and shared technical expertise to support innovation and protect the public. Gabriele Mazzini, architect of the EU AI Act, challenged legislative complexity and called for clearer, more practical compliance requirements. Alex Engler, former White House AI adviser, urged stronger investigative powers and technical capabilities for regulators overseeing algorithmic systems. LONDON, 5 November 2026 — The World AI Regulation Summit opened in London with a call for clearer artificial intelligence (AI) obligations, stronger supervisory capabilities and greater international cooperation as governments confront the practical difficulties of regulating systems deployed across industries and borders. Convened by TAB Global, the summit brought together policymakers, legislators, regulators and industry participants to examine how AI governance can move from broad principles to requirements that businesses can implement and authorities can enforce. Opening contributions from Lord Chris Holmes of Richmond, a member of the United Kingdom House of Lords and chair of the summit, Gabriele Mazzini, architect and lead author of the European Union (EU) AI Act, and Alex Engler, executive director of the Penn Center on Media, Technology and Democracy and a former White House AI adviser, explored different approaches to that challenge. Holmes advocated a principles-based, outcomes-focused approach that supports innovation while protecting citizens. His Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill proposes an authority to coordinate existing sector regulators, share expertise and address gaps in oversight. The proposal is not enacted law. “I don’t think we are fully empowering our existing regulators by giving them AI and saying over to you,” Holmes said during the leadership dialogue. He also emphasised international compatibility: jurisdictions can retain different approaches while developing rules that work together across borders. Mazzini examined the EU’s experience with comprehensive AI legislation and the difficulties of translating broad requirements into workable compliance measures. He argued that detailed obligations, supervisory capacity and the ability to implement legislation matter as much as the ambition to establish global standards. For example, businesses deploying automated credit assessment systems need to know what meaningful human oversight and adequate explanations require in practice. Mazzini said more specific guidance can enable a “faster cycle for product development and compliance”. He also questioned whether preventive rules are always the best instrument where technologies and development practices remain unsettled. Engler examined the United States’ reliance on existing laws and sector regulators. He warned that agencies may be responsible for investigating discrimination or consumer harm without possessing the technical powers or resources to examine the algorithmic systems involved. “An agency may have the ability to go interview people, but they may not have the ability to get data or models or software systems,” Engler said. He advocated stronger technical and investigative capacity and guidance tailored to particular high-impact applications. The opening discussions also considered regulatory fragmentation and arbitrage. Holmes argued that proportionate rules can support investment confidence. Mazzini highlighted differences in enforcement capacity across EU member states, while Engler placed greater priority on addressing gaps in domestic protections. Their positions underscored that international alignment does not require identical regulatory institutions, but does require clarity about who is responsible for oversight. In his opening address, Emmanuel Daniel, founder and chairman of TAB Global, framed AI regulation across infrastructure, foundation models, orchestration and applications. He argued that regulators must address consequences extending from computing resources and energy use to automated decisions and accountability. He also emphasised the need for regulators across sectors to engage with AI rather than treat it as the remit of a single specialist authority. The wider summit programme addresses assurance, sovereignty, intellectual property, environmental costs and the governance of increasingly autonomous AI systems. The discussions are intended to inform the London Record and subsequent work on practical approaches to AI regulation. The opening message is that credible AI governance depends on both sides of compliance: rules that businesses can interpret and demonstrate, and regulators equipped to test and enforce them. The summit provides a forum for jurisdictions to compare those approaches while recognising their different legal and institutional circumstances. Read the accompanying analysis on The Asian Banker. About the World AI Regulation Summit The World AI Regulation Summit is a TAB Global initiative bringing together regulators, policymakers, industry participants and researchers to examine the governance of artificial intelligence across jurisdictions and sectors. About TAB Global TAB Global is an international research, editorial, events and professional learning organisation with roots in financial services. Its brands include TABInsights, The Asian Banker and The Banking Academy. Media contact: Eimran Kahn, TAB Global | [email protected]
