The EU AI Act marks a defining moment in global tech governance. Not as a bureaucratic obstacle, but as a bold ethical stance. As AI systems become increasingly influential in shaping societies, the European Union has taken a values-first approach; prioritising transparency, accountability, and human rights over unchecked innovation.
This article explores how the Act reframes regulation as a democratic safeguard, challenges the economic status quo of algorithmic power, and positions Europe’s framework as a blueprint for responsible AI worldwide. In doing so, it raises an urgent question: not whether we should regulate AI, but whether we can afford not to.