Can the EU AI Act Be Simplified? Sandra Maximiano on AI Regulation, Sovereignty & Digital Resilience

Can Europe regulate AI without slowing innovation? Recorded live at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva, Sanjay Puri sits down with Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of ANACOM to discuss the future of AI governance, the evolving **EU AI Act**, digital sovereignty, and why resilient communications infrastructure is just as important as AI models themselves. Sandra explains why the next phase of AI regulation should focus on implementation, practical guidance, and digital literacy—not simply enforcement. She also highlights Portugal's unique role in global connectivity, with roughly a quarter of the world's submarine cables passing through its exclusive economic zone, making resilience and security critical to the future of AI. The conversation explores AI sandboxes, sovereign AI, infrastructure security, submarine cable resilience, and what policymakers should prioritize as AI becomes increasingly integrated into society. ### **In this episode:** * Why the EU AI Act is being simplified * The balance between AI innovation and regulation * Why implementation matters more than regulation alone * AI sandboxes and helping companies comply * The critical role of submarine cables in AI infrastructure * Building resilient AI systems beyond data centers * Portugal's sovereign AI strategy and language models * Lessons in diplomacy and AI governance for smaller nations Whether you're a policymaker, regulator, entrepreneur, AI executive, or technology leader, this episode offers valuable insights into Europe's evolving approach to AI governance and digital resilience. **Recorded live at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva** by Knowledge Networks. Subscribe for more conversations with the global leaders shaping AI policy, governance, and innovation. #AI #EUAIAct #ArtificialIntelligence #AIGovernance #DigitalSovereignty #SubmarineCables #ResponsibleAI #Europe #Portugal #AIForGood #Geneva #RegulatingAI #SanjayPuri --- Chapters **00:00** Why AI depends on submarine cables **00:44** Meet Sandra Maximiano and ANACOM **01:35** Portugal's role in implementing the EU AI Act **02:36** Why the EU AI Act is being simplified **04:45** Making AI regulation practical and implementable **06:51** Has the EU communicated the AI Act effectively? **08:48** AI sandboxes and regulatory collaboration **11:00** Why submarine cables are critical to AI resilience **14:29** Protecting submarine cables from accidents and sabotage **17:10** Portugal's sovereign AI strategy and language models **18:47** Portugal's leadership in global AI governance **21:51** Balancing Europe, the US, and China in AI policy **25:47** Final thoughts on AI sovereignty and European values