For many of us following along with the EU AI Act negotiations, the road to a final agreement took many twists and turns, some unexpected. For Laura Caroli, this long, complicated road has been a lived experience. As the lead technical negotiator and policy advisor to AI Act co-rapporteur Brando Benefei, Caroli was immersed in high stakes negotiations for the world’s first major AI legislation. IAPP Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy spoke with Caroli in a candid conversation about her experience and policy philosophy, including the approach EU policy makers took in crafting the AI Act, the obstacles negotiators faced, and how it fundamentally differs from the EU General Data Protection Regulation. She addresses criticisms of the act, highlights the AI-specific rights for individuals, discusses the approach to future proofing a law that regulates such a rapidly developing technology, and looks ahead to what a successful AI law will look like in practice.