On November 22, the EU Office in San Francisco hosted its latest "Brussels to the Bay" panel with the Director of the EU AI Office Lucilla Sioli, California Senator Josh Becker, prof. Stuart Russell, Anthropic’s Sara Heck and KIRA’s Daniel Privitera, moderated by Anne Josephine Flanagan of the Future of Privacy Forum.

AI Safety Institutes had gathered in San Francisco on November 20-21 to collaborate on responsible AI development and deployment. The three high-priority topics of their discussion included managing risks from synthetic content, testing foundation models, and conducting risk assessments for advanced AI systems. The EU, the only AISI International Network member with binding AI rules, shared its first draft of the Code of Practice on General Purpose AI models just before the AISIs convening. Click here to learn more.

While the Internet helps us learn, express ourselves, develop interests, and build communities, it also exposes us to addiction and other dangers online, from harmful content and cyberbullying to the threat of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In the EU, thanks to the Digital Services Act, big tech companies have to assess the risks of their services triggering negative effects on children’s rights and young people’s mental and physical health. This Brussels to the Bay event featured experts who are deeply involved in designing rules to safeguard children online from both the EU and the United States. Click here to learn more.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the first edition of Europe in the Park — a vibrant celebration of European culture right here in San Francisco! On September 21, Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park transformed into a European cultural hub featuring a variety of activities, performances, and delicious food. Guests explored the rich diversity of Europe through interactive exhibits, cultural showcases, and traditional games. They also savored authentic European flavours from local vendors, including Dutchman Stroopwafels, Porchetta Toscana, FrankoniYUM (German sausages), and more. See a few highlights by clicking here.

The purpose of the San Francisco office:

• Explain EU policies and promote EU-U.S. understanding around technological concerns, policies, and actions
• Support transatlantic alignment and governance based on shared democratic values
• Collect inputs from local stakeholders to feed EU policymaking

The opening of the San Francisco office is a result of the 2021 EU-U.S. Summit's commitment to strengthening transatlantic technological cooperation. It is also a core part of the Conclusions on Digital Diplomacy, adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in July 2021.

The San Francisco office seeks to promote EU standards and technologies, digital policies and regulations, and governance models. It also aims to strengthen cooperation with U.S. stakeholders, including advancing the work of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council. Read more about the office opening here.

• Engage with policymakers, academia, civil society, and industry that are active in the digital and green sectors on the West Coast  
• Report to EU institutions in Brussels about technological trends and policy insights developed and discussed in the United States, namely on the West Coast
• Organize and participate in outreach initiatives to clearly explain the EU's work to boost and regulate the digital economy (e.g. its "Brussels to the Bay" event series)
• Provide in-depth updates about the policymaking process of European tech regulation, as well as the vision, embedded-values, and problem statement behind them
• Facilitate the connection between EU and Bay Area stakeholders, especially regarding visits