Why 2026 must be the year of beneficial AI governance

Fast Company (Feb 5, 2026) "Why 2026 must be the year of beneficial AI governance" argues AI regulation is no longer a tech story but a power story, shifting from abstract progress arguments to concrete questions about who benefits and who carries the risk. Governments are moving away from "one-size-fits-all" AI laws toward a layered approach where rules scale with potential for harm. A more grounded philosophy — beneficial intelligence leadership — is emerging: organisations should treat safety, auditability and recourse as core product features (not afterthoughts), tie AI deployments to clear human outcomes (better patient care, fairer hiring, higher wages, broader opportunity), and share power in governance with workers, affected communities and independent experts. Useful framing for SEA mid-market boards designing AI ethics charters.