Debates over AI’s existential risks have reached a boiling point. Yet there is a far more immediate threat: the entangling of geopolitics with AI regulation. Geopolitics must not be allowed to derail genuine efforts to curb AI risks. States must forge a consensus on what constitutes a true catastrophic AI risk, distinguishing it from doomsday hype. Subsequently, a global governance framework for catastrophic AI risks must be established, with a focus on autonomous weapons and critical infrastructure.