Washington AI Network gala shows unlikely alliances on AI rules

In short: A black-tie Washington event highlighted how AI regulation is pulling together an unusual mix of people who do not normally share the same goals.

What's going on

A recent column from The Verge describes a gala hosted by the Washington AI Network at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC. The event was billed as a celebration of rising “power players” in artificial intelligence.

The guest list included AI lobbyists, nonprofit groups focused on AI safety, tech industry representatives, and journalists. It also included celebrity and political figures like Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank and Mehmet Oz, who is listed in the column as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

One striking detail was the presence of Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Vatican’s top diplomat to the United States, who attended and delivered remarks. The column frames this moment as a way to understand how Washington insiders are reacting to “Magnifica Humanitas,” an encyclical from Pope Leo XIV about Catholic teaching on artificial intelligence. (An encyclical is a formal public letter from the Pope, like a statement of values and guidance for Catholics.)

Overall, the scene points to a broader pattern in Washington. AI policy debates are creating coalitions that can look strange from the outside, with industry groups, government officials, safety advocates, and religious voices all showing up in the same room.

What to watch

As lawmakers look for rules around AI, expect more partnerships that seem unlikely at first glance. When many groups want different things from the same technology, the negotiations can look less like a normal political fight and more like a crowded town hall where everyone is trying to set the agenda.

Source: The Verge AI