In this unit, we'll examine how governments are actually implementing AI governance. We'll focus on three major players - the US, EU, and China - analyzing how their different approaches reflect their values, priorities, and political systems.
Government approaches to AI governance typically fall into distinct regulatory categories, from risk assessment frameworks to disclosure requirements. These categories represent different tools in the policy toolkit, each with their own strengths and limitations. By comparing how different jurisdictions use these tools, we can better understand both technical and political constraints on governance.
Remember that government policies reflect more than just technical considerations - they embody specific political priorities and economic interests. As you analyze these approaches, consider how different political systems and national priorities shape policy choices.

By the end of the unit, you should be able to:
\- Understand the structure of AI policies and regulations worldwide, focusing on the US, EU, and China.
\- Define and explain the purpose of eight regulatory categories of AI policies.


Resources: How AI is Governed Today

Exercises: How AI is Governed Today

_Spend 15-20 minutes on this exercise_
Choose one of the eight policy levers below:
- Evaluations and risk assessments
- Model registries
- Incident reporting
- Open and closed-source regulations
- Frontier model cybersecurity
- Discrimination requirements
- AI disclosures
- CBRN hazards regulations
For your chosen lever, evaluate:
- What are its goals?
- Who is implementing it?
- How successful has that actor been at achieving its goals thus far?
- Does this action seem likely to achieve its goals in the next five years? Why or why not?


Evaluating policy actions

AI Governance Fast-Track

Explore how the US, EU, and China are actually governing AI through eight types of regulation.

How AI is Governed Today

Learn why AI governance matters, who the players are, and what technical factors shape our choices.

Foundations of AI Governance

Discover the concrete tools governments can use to steer AI and the hard tradeoffs they face.

The AI Policy Toolkit

See how the most powerful AI companies are setting their internal rules.

Governance at Frontier AI Companies

Examine concrete proposals for future AI governance, from compute governance to defensive acceleration.

AI Governance Fast-Track

Resources: How AI is Governed Today

Resources (1 hr 20 mins)