# Why Europe has been absent from the great AI safety debate > Source: > Published: 2026-09-18 18:37:36+00:00 # Why Europe has been absent from the great AI safety debate By Dan Milmo and Aisha DownSource: [The Guardian Technology](https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Though Europe has measures that address how consumers might encounter AI, technology will impact them if the worst scenarios bear Europe’s dilemma over AI was rendered in stark terms this week. The head of the continent’s central bank, Christine Lagarde, said Europeans have two options: shun the technology and lose out on growth; or embrace it and become dependent on tools developed by the US and China. The great debate over [AI safety](https://www.machinebrief.com/glossary/ai-safety) that has erupted in recent days threatens to make the choice moot. If the worst scenarios come to bear – [and experts have differing views on this](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/15/could-ai-really-wipe-out-humanity-and-hijack-the-internet) – then the technology will impact the continent regardless. [Continue reading...](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/18/europe-ai-safety-debate) Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.