EU’s AI rules, Google CTR drop, McKinsey “superagency”

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time for your weekly dose of AI resources! Each edition is packed with easy-to-use guides, insights, and tools to help you grow your business and keep up with the ever-changing tech world.

1: The EU’s emerging AI regulatory framework

What’s happening

• The European Commission is classifying AI tools based on their potential risks.

• High-risk AI (e.g., self-driving vehicles, medical tech) will face stricter rules, including safety checks and clear documentation.

• Lower-risk systems, like internal chatbots, will have fewer constraints.

• Though details are still evolving, the aim is to ensure AI remains innovative and trustworthy.

Why it matters: Just like GDPR revolutionized data privacy worldwide, these new AI regulations could become the global benchmark. Even if you’re outside Europe, you might need to adapt your products or strategies if you plan to serve EU-based customers or partners. Getting ahead of these rules can save you from last-minute compliance scrambles.

Between the lines: Some fear that extra red tape might slow AI innovation or push smaller companies away from Europe. Others argue that well-thought-out standards can build user trust and encourage responsible development. Given the EU’s track record, other regions may soon follow its lead.

The bottom line: If Europe is part of your market strategy, stay tuned. Early prep means fewer compliance headaches down the road—and a solid reputation for ethical AI.

Dig deeper

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2: Google’s AI Overviews may be killing your CTR

State of play:

• Seer analyzed ~10,000 keywords (top 20 positions, informational intent) across both Google Ads and Search Console. They found that when Google’s new AI Overviews show up, overall click-through rates (CTR) nosedive.

• Why? Because the AI Overview snippet often gives people the answer right on the page, so fewer folks click through.

Yes, but...

There’s a twist: If your site shows up in the AI Overview, you might actually see a slight increase in both organic and paid CTR.

Between the lines: As Google experiments with AI-driven search snippets, some brands will benefit by appearing in them — while others may lose out on organic traffic if they aren’t highlighted.

Why it matters: This shift could rewire how we think about SEO and paid advertising. If fewer people click traditional links, strategies for discovery, engagement, and conversion will need a refresh.

Our takeaway: Keep an eye on your analytics. Being included in the AI Overview may provide a boost, but if you’re seeing a drop in traffic overall, it might be time to optimize your content with AI snippets in mind.

3: McKinsey on AI “Superagency” in the workplace

McKinsey’s new report, “Superagency in the Workplace: Empowering People to Unlock AI’s Full Potential,” dives into how businesses can boost employee productivity and creativity with AI tools.

State of play:

• Many employees feel uncomfortable adopting AI or simply don’t know where to start. McKinsey highlights that companies must train and empower teams to collaborate with AI, rather than just hand them a new tool.

• Big takeaway? Human+AI can yield major productivity gains—if you build the right environment.

Yes, but...

Culture matters. Employees may fear that AI will make their jobs redundant. Leaders need to communicate clear goals and show how AI augments, not replaces, human roles.

Why it matters: AI can handle routine tasks, freeing people to focus on strategy, creativity, and higher-level problem-solving. But that only happens if the entire organization understands the “what” and the “why” behind AI adoption.

Our thought bubble: Don’t just toss employees an AI tool and call it a day. Provide practical training, policy guidelines, and a culture that encourages experimentation. In other words, create “superagents,” not just AI operators.

The bottom line: McKinsey’s findings suggest AI won’t automatically transform your workplace. Leaders who invest in people-centric AI strategies—training, open communication, and ethical guidelines—will see the biggest gains.

Check out the full report

4: Will DeepSeek hurt scale AI’s business model?

DeepSeek R1—a new reasoning model from China—is using AI to generate and solve its own coding and math problems. That’s traditionally been the job of specialized human experts recruited by companies like Scale AI and Labelbox to improve AI models (the so-called post-training phase). If DeepSeek’s self-training approach works on a large scale, it could reduce the need for paid experts and undercut the existing business model.

But there’s a catch: AI still struggles with truly complex tasks that involve multiple domains (e.g., rocket design or advanced financial audits), or situations where empathy and style matter as much as correctness (like providing medical advice). That’s why Scale AI and others believe humans will remain essential—and they’re moving toward offering direct expert matching and AI consulting for big enterprises.

In the end, DeepSeek might handle some of the simpler tasks automatically, yet complex, high-stakes projects still demand human oversight. Post-training companies that adapt to these evolving needs—offering more nuanced data services or expert consultations—will likely stay relevant in an AI-driven world.

News & updates

• OpenAI has just filed fresh trademark applications that point to a potential leap into hardware—with plans for everything from VR headsets to humanoid robots—highlighting Sam Altman’s bold ambitions for the company’s future.

• Google is revising its AI policy to allow for deeper defense tech collaborations, signaling a major shift in how Big Tech balances innovation with national security demands.

• John Schulman, an OpenAI co-founder who joined Anthropic last year, has now left the rival startup, adding another shake-up among AI’s top talent.

• World leaders, tech chiefs, and researchers from 80 countries are gathering in Paris for the third Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, with China’s rapidly rising DeepSeek app shaking up the race for global AI leadership and sparking fresh concerns over how to regulate this powerful technology.

Editors picks ☕️

The Information: ChatGPT’s New ‘Research’ Feature: The Good and the Bad.

Financial Times: Anthropic: ‘Please don’t use AI’.

Time Magazine: Exclusive: Brits Want to Ban ‘Smarter Than Human’ AI.