The influence of artificial intelligence on geopolitics will increase in the coming years. A new study compares it to electricity or the combustion engine.
Throughout history there have been times when technological inventions have set the pace of geopolitics international or regional. In order not to go too far behind, the Industrial Revolution placed the British Empire at the forefront. Then the Second Industrial Revolution helped consolidate the power of a newly created Germany, and paved the way for the United States. The three countries played a leading role, above the rest, at that time.
Y now is the time for artificial intelligence. Some experts give such consideration to technology that they make it one more ingredient of the world order. And it’s not just specialists who hold her in such high regard. Some countries seem to have taken the new technology seriously.
In 2016, just before Donald Trump came to power, the White House published a memorandum on the situation of United States with respect to artificial intelligence and what the country needed to lead this technological current. France he announced a plan this year through which he will invest 1,500 million euros, between 2019 and 2022 to boost the AI sector.
That is why it is not strange that the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) has addressed the influence of artificial intelligence on geopolitics. And the first conclusion is clear: China and the United States fight the leadership of this technology.
The report submitted by CNAS compare AI with electricity or combustion engine. All these technologies opened up a huge range of applications, whose effects could be seen in productivity, as well as in their negative consequences, whether social or political.
Artificial intelligence it won’t be like the nuclear weapon or the warship., whose impact is closed to a single scope. Technology will provide a basis for advancing in multiple economic sectors. The study highlights that one of the keys will be public-private collaboration.
A fight of two with guests
The CNAS clearly defines the main struggle between China and the United States. The first has driven a vibrant ecosystem of AI startups and, above all, has put in place an overall plan to lead in artificial intelligence around 2030. Those responsible for the study do not see, however, that the United States has devoted the same care to this technology.
It will be one of these two giants who will finally place himself in the leadership position in AI. But he won’t do it alone. Geopolitical influence will be shared and there will be countries, like Israel, Russia or Singapore, which will also have their own position of strength. The study also quotes Co south Area and India as influential. But it issues a warning: don’t let go of the security or social concerns that technology presents.
Images: Kelsey Knight, PGB
