Ayisha Piotti, Managing Partner at RegHorizon, was invited by EPFL on August 28, 2026, to speak during its Academic Preparation Week, an event welcoming nearly 800 new students in science, engineering and architecture.
The session explored a question that is becoming increasingly important for the next generation of scientists and engineers: How do we remain relevant in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, while building strong academic and professional skills and using AI tools responsibly?
Drawing on a broader policy perspective, Ayisha discussed the rapidly evolving global conversation around AI governance, regulation and responsible innovation. She emphasised that the objective of AI governance should not simply be to regulate technology, but to ensure that AI develops in ways that are safe, fair, transparent and beneficial to society. The gains generated by AI, she noted, should be distributed broadly rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.
A central question she raised was whether AI necessarily requires entirely new legal frameworks, or whether existing laws can be interpreted and applied intelligently to address emerging AI-related challenges. As AI develops rapidly, policymakers face the challenge of ensuring that regulation keeps pace without unnecessarily constraining innovation.
Ayisha also addressed some of the most contested issues in contemporary AI governance, including transparency, accountability and responsible use. She highlighted that ideas such as transparency cannot necessarily be understood in exactly the same way across jurisdictions, given differences in legal systems, social expectations and cultural contexts.
At the same time, the rapid development of AI creates a strong sense of urgency. AI is an extraordinarily powerful tool, but societies must continue to work towards establishing common principles and safeguards for its responsible development and deployment.
The discussion also touched upon the European Union AI Act and the evolving global regulatory landscape. Importantly, Ayisha encouraged the engineering and science students to look beyond the technical dimensions of AI and actively participate in the policy, legal and ethical conversations shaping its future.
The future of AI will not be shaped by technologists alone. It will require meaningful collaboration between engineers, scientists, lawyers, policymakers and society at large.
Watch Ayisha Piotti’s full discussion here:
Watch the full discussion on YouTube