Weekly Update: Week of May 26, 2025

Global AI governance leadership. Japan took a major step by passing its first AI law on May 28. Japan’s legislation focuses on safe AI development – it empowers authorities to investigate AI misuse (though without penalties) and establishes a task force to draft AI guidelines. By acknowledging risks like misinformation and forming a national AI strategy, Japan joined the global push for structured and risk aware AI regulation. This week underscored growing consensus that advanced AI needs oversight: even traditionally tech-positive nations like Japan are enacting guardrails to ensure AI benefits outweigh harms.