AI Sandboxes: Giving Developers Room to Experiment Without Giving Up Oversight

Before AI reaches hospitals, financial systems, public services, or millions of users, where should it be tested? For years, Big Tech has relied on controlled testing environments to safely develop, refine, and evaluate AI systems before wider deployment. Today, governments are embracing the same philosophy. The EU AI Act requires Member States to establish AI regulatory sandboxes for high-risk AI systems, while in the United States, the concept is rapidly gaining momentum. Senator Ted Cruz has proposed a federal AI Sandbox Framework to encourage innovation by giving developers room to experiment while maintaining appropriate oversight, and states such as Texas have already incorporated AI regulatory sandbox provisions into their legislative frameworks. But what exactly is an AI sandbox? How do regulatory sandboxes differ from the technical testing environments already used by leading AI companies? What real-world sandbox initiatives already exist? And how can startups, enterprises, regulators, and AI builders use these environments to safely move ambitious AI ideas from concept to deployment? Join us for a practical conversation with two leading experts from the Datasphere Initiative, one of the world's foremost organizations advancing responsible AI and data governance. Together, we'll explore how AI sandboxes are becoming a critical bridge between innovation, regulation, and responsible deployment—and why every AI builder, policymaker, legal professional, and AI governance practitioner should understand them. Speakers Sophie Tomlinson Deputy Executive Director, Datasphere Initiative Sophie Tomlinson is Deputy Executive Director at the Datasphere Initiative and an experienced policy and communications leader specializing in technology governance, digital transformation, international trade, and sustainable development. Prior to joining Datasphere, she led global digital economy policy initiatives at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), covering issues such as privacy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and digital trade. She holds a Master's degree in International Public Policy from University College London. Mariana Rozo-Paz Policy, Research and Project Management Lead, Datasphere Initiative Mariana Rozo-Paz is a lawyer and policy professional specializing in data governance, responsible innovation, and AI policy. At the Datasphere Initiative, she leads research, policy, and capacity-building programs supporting governments, international organizations, and civil society in designing responsible AI and data governance frameworks, including regulatory sandboxes. Mariana previously worked at Data-Pop Alliance and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. She is also the co-founder of Boldea, an initiative dedicated to empowering young people to navigate an increasingly complex technological world. Moderator & Series Curator Ana Catarina de Alencar International Lawyer, Ethicist, PhD Researcher, and Resident Philosopher at The AI Collective Ana Catarina de Alencar is an international lawyer and ethicist based in Paris whose work explores the societal impacts of emotionally responsive technologies and AI systems. She is a PhD researcher at the Université de Lille, where she investigates emotional AI, human autonomy, and digital well-being through an interdisciplinary lens combining law, ethics, philosophy, and neurobiology. She currently serves as Resident Philosopher at The AI Collective, where she curates and moderates conversations on AI, society, and human flourishing. Date & Time 📅 July 2, 2026 🕕 6:00 PM Paris (CEST) 🕔 5:00 PM London (BST) 🕘 9:00 AM San Francisco (PDT) Duration: 60 minutes

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