Artificial Intelligence

QSAR in the AI Era: Reflections for Advancing Chemical Safety Assessment

A 2026 perspective from the QSAR2025 workshop community sets out how QSAR models, recognised as AI systems, are being evaluated and integrated into international chemical safety assessment frameworks, and explores the role of newer AI tools such as large language models. For regulatory and product stewardship teams, this signals growing expectations that AI-driven toxicology models meet established QSAR governance principles on data quality, applicability domain, transparency, uncertainty analysis and expert judgement, foreshadowing tighter scrutiny of black-box tools used to support regulatory decisions.

22 May 2026, 16:44pubs.acs.orgGlobal

European Commission President Signals New Single Market Acts in European Parliament Speech

The European Commission President used a 19 May 2026 speech to the European Parliament to outline a six-point Single Market agenda, flagging forthcoming initiatives such as a Chips Act 2.0, a Cloud and AI Development Act, an Industrial Accelerator Act and new labour and social policy packages. These signals show the Commission’s direction of travel on digital, clean industry and labour regulation, but with no draft texts or dates yet, regulatory and compliance teams should treat them as early indications ahead of more detailed legislative proposals.

22 May 2026, 12:12ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Hong Kong Government Establishes AI Law Review Working Group, Confirms No Specific Robot Regulations

In May 2026 the Hong Kong Government confirmed there is currently no robot-specific legislation or mandatory third-party liability insurance, while establishing an interdepartmental working group to review laws for AI and intelligent robots. This signals early-stage regulatory scrutiny of AI-driven robotics in public and commercial settings, suggesting companies using such systems in Hong Kong should anticipate future proposals on liability, safety standards, and insurance coverage.

22 May 2026, 12:12info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

EU Commission Adopts First AI Act Review of Prohibited Practices and Annex III High‑Risk Systems

In May 2026 the European Commission adopted the first AI Act review report under Article 112, concluding that it is too early to change the lists of prohibited AI practices or Annex III high‑risk AI systems while key provisions are only starting to apply and evidence is still limited. The report instead highlights emerging risks such as deepfake sexual abuse content, AI‑enabled scams, mental‑health chatbots, AI in social services and debt collection, and AI in democratic processes as priority areas for supervision and possible future legislative tightening.

22 May 2026, 12:12eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany: Chancellor Merz Highlights Hightech Agenda, AI and Microelectronics at ZVEI Summit 2026

Chancellor Merz used his ZVEI Summit 2026 speech to celebrate Germany’s electrical and digital industry and confirm Cabinet presentation of Hightech Agenda technology roadmaps for key technologies such as AI and microelectronics, alongside ongoing reforms on energy, taxation and bureaucracy. This signals a continued push to make AI-enabled industrial automation and semiconductor capacity strategic priorities while shaping EU frameworks like the AI Act and future tools such as EU Inc to create a more competitive, investment-friendly environment for advanced manufacturing and digital businesses.

20 May 2026, 19:58bundesregierung.deGermanyEuropean Union

France Senate Proposes Law to Generalise Algorithmic Video Surveillance for Public Security

In May 2026 the French Senate registered a bill creating a permanent legal framework for AI-based analysis of CCTV images by law enforcement and key transport operators, while explicitly banning biometric identification and facial recognition. If adopted, this would move France beyond temporary retail experiments toward a nationwide, regulated regime for algorithmic video surveillance, heightening governance, data protection and oversight obligations for public authorities and technology providers.

20 May 2026, 19:20senat.frFranceEuropean Union

European Parliament IMCO/LIBE Committees Schedule Vote on Digital Omnibus Amendments to AI Act and Civil Aviation Basic Regulation

European Parliament committees IMCO and LIBE will hold an electronic vote on 2 June 2026 on the provisional agreement for the Digital Omnibus on AI, which amends the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and the Civil Aviation Basic Regulation to simplify implementation of harmonised AI rules. If endorsed, this vote will move the omnibus package close to final adoption, signalling that EU-level AI requirements for products and digital systems are solidifying and should be factored into medium-term compliance and governance planning.

20 May 2026, 17:59europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

China MEE In‑Principle Approves 15th Five‑Year AI Action Plan for Ecological Environment Governance

In May 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment in-principle approved a “15th Five-Year” action plan to expand the use of artificial intelligence in ecological and environmental governance. This signals a forthcoming national programme to scale AI-driven monitoring and decision support across pollution control, climate and ecological protection, likely increasing future expectations around environmental data, digital infrastructure and compliance capabilities for regulated sectors.

20 May 2026, 10:07mee.gov.cnChina

European Parliament To Hold Final Vote On New EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation

The European Parliament signalled in a May 2026 pre-session briefing that its plenary is expected to give final approval to a new EU regulation tightening screening of foreign investments in strategic sectors such as defence, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical raw materials and financial services. If adopted as proposed, this will make EU-wide foreign investment screening a routine compliance gate for cross-border deals in these sectors, with more harmonised criteria and closer EU-level coordination around security and public-order risks.

15 May 2026, 18:34europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

South Korea Publishes 6th Product Safety Management Comprehensive Plan (2026–2028)

In May 2026 the Korean government adopted a 6th Product Safety Management Comprehensive Plan setting its 2026–2028 roadmap for more data- and AI-driven oversight of consumer products and online platforms. Over the next three years this signals tighter controls on overseas direct-purchase products, new and updated safety standards for batteries, AI/IoT and children’s products, and more intensive market surveillance and enforcement that manufacturers, importers and marketplaces will need to factor into compliance planning.

15 May 2026, 14:29media.licdn.comSouth Korea

EEA Council Drafts Conclusions on Internal Market, Climate and Digital Frameworks (62nd Meeting)

EU and EEA EFTA ministers have circulated draft conclusions for the 62nd EEA Council that set shared priorities on Internal Market resilience, climate and energy transition, and digital regulation including the DSA, DMA, AI Act, CBAM and EU ETS cooperation in the run-up to the 27 May 2026 meeting. While not creating immediate new obligations, this signals that Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are likely to remain closely aligned with EU frameworks on carbon pricing, border adjustment, platforms, AI and health data, so cross-EEA operators should anticipate converging compliance expectations over the coming years.

15 May 2026, 12:44data.consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionEuropean Economic Area

European Parliament Resolution on Reducing Work-Related Fatalities and Emerging OSH Risks

In May 2026 the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution calling for a European day of remembrance for work-related accident victims and urging stronger prevention of emerging occupational safety and health risks, including from artificial intelligence and climate-driven heat stress. The resolution signals political pressure for future EU and national initiatives that tighten expectations on employers, labour inspectorates and policymakers to address psychosocial, technology-related and climate-related risks as part of a “Vision Zero” approach to workplace fatalities.

15 May 2026, 09:36europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

China MEM Solicits Experts for AI and Hazardous Chemicals Safety Standardisation Subcommittee

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has launched a call for experts to join a new national subcommittee on integrating artificial intelligence into hazardous chemicals work safety standardisation, with nominations due by mid-June 2026. This governance move signals a strategic push to develop AI-focused work safety standards in China’s hazardous chemicals sector, foreshadowing future requirements that could affect plant operations, digitalisation strategies, and technology procurement.

14 May 2026, 09:26mem.gov.cnChina

US EPA Seeks Comment on Draft Fiscal Year 2027 Evidence Plan

In April 2026, US EPA released a draft FY 2027 Evidence Plan outlining priority evaluation questions on major grant programmes, permitting reforms and AI-enabled permitting workflows, and opened the plan for public comment through late May 2026. The plan signals increased scrutiny of how EPA grants and permitting processes deliver environmental and human health outcomes, foreshadowing future changes in how programmes are designed, evaluated and potentially tightened across EPA-regulated sectors.

13 May 2026, 09:19govinfo.govUnited States

China Issues Joint Action Plan on AI–Energy Bidirectional Empowerment

In April 2026, four central Chinese agencies issued a joint national action plan setting out 29 tasks to integrate artificial intelligence with the energy system through 2030. The programme signals tighter expectations on clean power for data centres, greener computing infrastructure, AI-driven energy operations, and future standards and financing tools that could reshape investment and risk for energy and digital infrastructure in China.

11 May 2026, 11:59nea.gov.cnChina

California SB 1248 Would Regulate State Agencies’ Use of Automated Decision Systems

California’s SB 1248, introduced in February 2026 and now set for a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on 14 May 2026, would create a new chapter of the Government Code to regulate how state agencies use automated decision systems in public-benefit and professional licensing decisions. If enacted, it would hard-wire human oversight, bias monitoring, and data-protection safeguards into government AI tools, signalling tighter expectations for public-sector use of algorithmic decision-making and the features agencies will demand from AI vendors.

11 May 2026, 11:39leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Germany: VCI Launches NIS2 Cybersecurity Webinar Series and Member Guidance

Germany’s NIS2 implementation law is being operationalised through a VCI-led cybersecurity webinar series and member guidance tailored to chemical companies. This provides a practical roadmap for medium-sized operators to meet new governance, reporting, risk-management and lawful AI-use obligations ahead of upcoming compliance deadlines.

11 May 2026, 11:33recht.bund.deGermanyEuropean Union

EMA Workshop To Shape Risk-Based AI Guidance For GMP Annex 22

EMA’s GMP/GDP Inspectors Working Group will hold a two-day multistakeholder workshop on 30 June–1 July 2026 to gather expert evidence for Annex 22 EU guidance on the use of generative AI in medicines manufacturing. The workshop signals that regulators are actively exploring risk-based guardrails that could eventually permit certain AI systems in critical GMP applications, so pharmaceutical manufacturers should track outcomes as they may shape future Annex 22 expectations.

9 May 2026, 19:12ema.europa.euEuropean UnionNetherlands

European Commission Conference On Animal-Free Chemical Safety Assessment Roadmap Implementation

In June 2026 the European Commission and EPAA will host a three-day conference in Brussels to advance implementation of the EU roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The event will influence how regulators and industry use safe-space dialogues, AI tools and EPAA collaboration to accelerate regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods over the next five years.

9 May 2026, 18:56single-market-economy.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Cluster 3 Discussion on MDR/IVDR Simplification Proposal (ST 7253/2026 INIT)

In May 2026 the Council Presidency scheduled a Working Party discussion on a non-public cluster 3 document (ST 7253/2026 INIT) for the proposal to amend the EU medical devices and in vitro diagnostic regulations, the EMA’s expert-panel provisions and the AI Act. This signals that Council negotiations on the MDR/IVDR simplification package are advancing into detailed text for EMA support and Annex I alignment, so manufacturers and notified bodies should expect further drafting developments but no immediate change in legal obligations yet.

9 May 2026, 13:17consilium.europa.euEuropean Union