At the bustling India AI Impact Summit 2026, America’s representative shut down proposals for worldwide AI control mechanisms. Michael Kratsios of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy made it clear: AI rules belong in national hands, not global ones.
Nations should tailor AI strategies to their own contexts, free from international overreach, he urged. This firm rejection of centralized governance aligns with Trump administration principles, warning that bureaucracy would doom AI’s potential.
Local governance attuned to national priorities is key, Kratsios stressed. Real sovereignty involves leveraging cutting-edge AI for public good and national direction. Full tech isolation is impractical, but paired adoption and autonomy are vital—and America offers support.
The spotlight fell on the American AI Exports Program, designed to propel AI prosperity via sovereign partnerships. New financing streams from US development banks, trade agencies, and a World Bank fund aim to bridge gaps in resource-strapped regions.
Tech Corps emerged as a flagship effort, connecting US technical volunteers with allies to roll out AI in essential services. Kratsios lamented how finance and expertise shortfalls leave developing countries on the sidelines of this transformative wave.
‘America sets the AI gold standard,’ he declared proudly. The US position at the summit advocates for a fragmented yet cooperative AI landscape, empowering countries to innovate on their terms.