The AI & Geopolitics Project (AIxGEO) is a new initiative dedicated to a more cooperative future for AI and geopolitics.
In today’s context of geopolitical uncertainty, the narratives surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) have increasingly shifted towards its potential for national advantage and militarisation. The policy debate often focuses on security issues and the spectre of a so-called ‘AI arms race’, invoking images of technologically-enabled dominance in defence, the economy and political control. Meanwhile, these fears are prompting political interest in more intervention in the regulation of AI.
Beneath these debates lies a deeper concern about AI’s transformative power across the social, economic, and political spheres. States want to control technology and guide innovation for their national interests and, at the same time, do not want to be left behind in its development. Yet, from the early Internet to international space law and the Montreal Protocol, global responses to new technologies and technological challenges have been most successful when addressed through multi-stakeholder engagement and cooperation.
The rapid adoption of new and powerful large language models and the incredible resources poured into their development have represented a watershed moment for AI. Previous work by certain government officials, corporations, civil society groups and more towards greater global cooperation in addressing the effects of AI technologies have been overlooked as a new narrative has taken hold. AI has become a race to win, a resource to hoard, instead of an opportunity for increasing collaboration and progress towards humanity’s greatest challenges.
AIxGEO aims – through research, publications, and convenings – to critically analyse the AI arms race narrative and provide foundations for stakeholders to cooperate in shaping the development of AI. We are providing alternative visions and policy recommendations that aim to foster global collaboration, address the multifaceted impacts of AI, and shift the policy debate towards a more cooperative future for AI development so the technology can deliver the broad benefits it promises. Putting sharing principles, economic outcomes and multi-stakeholder involvement at the heart of AI policy, we highlight the opportunities to deploy AI as a technological tool for societal benefit.
The AIxGEO initiative is designed to help navigate the multifaceted challenges in AI policy through a pragmatic and evidence-driven approach. To achieve our vision and provide alternatives for actors hoping to avoid an AI Cold War or AI arms race, AIxGEO has three core strategic planks:
- We aim to analyse the shifting narratives regarding AI geopolitically and identify opportunities for international collaboration through primary research.
- Based on our research and experience, we aim to foster networks of those considering a broader approach to AI and geopolitics possible and inform those interested in alternative narratives and evidence.
- We aim to translate and distribute relevant lessons into actionable insights for key stakeholders through robust communications efforts and high-impact academic, policy, and media engagements.
This project is directed by Verity Harding.
