Why Fragmented AI Policy is Fueling Public Skepticism — and What Security Leaders Can Do About It
About This Session
The trust gap in AI is real, and possibly expanding. A 2025 Pew Research Center study found that while a majority of AI experts believe AI will have a positive impact on the United States, only 17% of the American public agrees. More than half of U.S. adults say they are more concerned than excited about AI, and both the public and experts alike indicate concern that government regulation will fall short rather than go too far.
AI governance is evolving, but not always in the same direction. Across the United States, states are writing their own AI rules in the absence of federal law. Internationally, a growing number of countries are each charting distinct regulatory paths. The result is a “patchwork” landscape that is active, ambitious, and complex to navigate from a compliance standpoint, which can send mixed signals to a public already uncertain about whether AI is being governed responsibly.
That perception challenge has real consequences. Public uncertainty about AI can slow adoption and create friction for organizations trying to deploy AI thoughtfully and at scale. For security and business leaders, trust is increasingly part of the AI risk calculus.
This session explores the relationship between policy fragmentation and public confidence in AI, and makes the case that today's regulatory complexity can also be viewed as an opportunity. Leaders who understand the policy landscape, and can translate it clearly for their organizations and stakeholders, are uniquely positioned to help close the gap.
Drawing on firsthand experience navigating the AI policy and regulatory landscape across federal, state, and international jurisdictions, this talk will map the current AI regulatory trends for a security-literate audience, connect it to enterprise risk in practical terms, and offer a framework for turning policy complexity into a trust-building advantage.
AI governance is evolving, but not always in the same direction. Across the United States, states are writing their own AI rules in the absence of federal law. Internationally, a growing number of countries are each charting distinct regulatory paths. The result is a “patchwork” landscape that is active, ambitious, and complex to navigate from a compliance standpoint, which can send mixed signals to a public already uncertain about whether AI is being governed responsibly.
That perception challenge has real consequences. Public uncertainty about AI can slow adoption and create friction for organizations trying to deploy AI thoughtfully and at scale. For security and business leaders, trust is increasingly part of the AI risk calculus.
This session explores the relationship between policy fragmentation and public confidence in AI, and makes the case that today's regulatory complexity can also be viewed as an opportunity. Leaders who understand the policy landscape, and can translate it clearly for their organizations and stakeholders, are uniquely positioned to help close the gap.
Drawing on firsthand experience navigating the AI policy and regulatory landscape across federal, state, and international jurisdictions, this talk will map the current AI regulatory trends for a security-literate audience, connect it to enterprise risk in practical terms, and offer a framework for turning policy complexity into a trust-building advantage.
Speaker
Bethany Abbate
Director, AI Policy - Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
Bethany Abbate is the Director of Artificial Intelligence Policy at the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the technology and information industry. SIIA's nearly 400 members include AI model developers, data analytics forms, edtech companies, financial information providers, and publishers, all of whom are at the forefront of AI innovation worldwide. Bethany leads SIIA's advocacy on AI policy before Congress, federal agencies, and state legislatures. Her background bridges government affairs, technology policy, and strategic communications. She holds an M.A. in Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a B.A. in Civic Communication and Media from Willamette University.
