Page 11 - The Indian EYE 041825

OPINION APRIL 18, 2025 | The Indian Eye 11

phisticated cyber-attacks to enhanc-
ing business efficiency. At the heart
of AI development lies an intense
geopolitical rivalry between China
and the US, making AI innovation
deeply entangled with national secu-
rity concerns and emerging security
threats altogether. With AI appli-
cations readily available for military
and civilian use, policymakers would
have to assess how this technology
will redefine global relations. Di-
plomacy is no longer about nuclear
non-proliferation — it extends to the
smallest semiconductors that power
increasingly advanced AI systems. As
AI continues to transform the tech-
nological landscape, policymakers
face a myriad of challenges. This pa-
per will explore three major issues at
the forefront of this evolving debate.
First, the driving force behind
AI development is largely econom-
ic, but its rapid advancement is set
to reshape the balance of power in
international politics. Like any ma-
jor industry, AI relies on a network
of global supply chains. Developers
worldwide depend on critical supply
chain inputs, such as Taiwan’s semi- In February, France hosted the third Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, which saw the participation of heads of governments and
conductor industry, which, in turn, states, leaders of international organizations (Agency photo)
depends on extreme ultraviolet li-
thography machines from the Nether-
lands to produce advanced AI chips. optimize supply chains and enhance to emerging technologies for some. ing critical ethical considerations. As
efficiency, they will increase com- Moreover, data centers pose sig- Prime Minister Modi emphasized in
AI will drive growth across in- petitiveness between nations and nificant national security concerns, as his opening address at the AI Action
reshape traditional patterns of in- they deal with sensitive information Summit (Paris 2025), “AI is develop-
dustries but also add pressure ternational trade and economic rela- from governments, business and in- ing at an unprecedented scale and
on supply chains. Companies tions. However, the further challenge dividuals. Governments have to en- speed … there is a need for collective
before policymakers is to reskill their sure that this information remains global efforts to establish governance
will need to create tailored, human resources to adapt quickly safe and secure. The potential misuse and standards that uphold our shared
end-to-end solutions whilst fos- to the changes that are taking place. of AI-enabled tools is another con- values, address risks and build trust.”
The other challenge is to address the cern for policymakers, particularly in Indian policymakers have high-
tering innovation in software need for standardization of regula- shaping norms for their use by state lighted the need to work collabora-
ecosystems. At the same time, tions on the ethical use of AI and to security forces, including the mili- tively, particularly with the Global
tary. AI-driven surveillance, facial
ensure fair access to AI benefits for
South and financial and resource
nations are looking at tighten- all, particularly as AI tools intersect recognition and predictive policing capacities, and have pushed to build
ing trade controls on sensitive with cross-border trade. technologies raise serious concerns mechanisms that allow access to
The third key concern for policy-
about mass monitoring and profiling.
technological developments for all.
technology adding to the exist- makers is understanding the security The rising reliance on AI for sur- As AI begins to change the way we
ing layers of complexities. risks associated with the use of AI in veillance has sparked debates on its interact, it will have a growing impact
both the civil and defense sectors. implications for citizens’ right to pri- on foreign policy and international
Addressing these risks requires sig- vacy, especially in countries lacking relations. AI is no longer just a top-
These restrictions are not just nificant capital and infrastructure, as strong personal data protection laws. ic of discussion in international pol-
about economics, — they reflect the well as the establishment of robust, There is an urgent need for interna- itics — it is emerging as a vital tool
shifting dynamics of global power trust-based partnerships between tional cooperation to establish agree- for diplomacy itself. AI needs to be
and rising geopolitical tensions. nations. Secondly, capital and infra- ments and ethical guidelines for AI harnessed for social good with hu-
The second major challenge for structure are not only essential for governance. Given the rapid pace of man control guiding its design and
policymakers is the growing inequal- research and development but also AI development and adoption, these development.
ity gap between countries that have for operating the energy-intensive frameworks would need to be contin- Dr. Stuti Banerjee is a Senior Research
invested in the development of AI data centers that power AI tools. uously monitored to ensure responsi- Fellow at Indian Council of World
tools and those lacking the capital Countries that work with companies ble use of AI. Affairs (ICWA). The views expressed
or the infrastructure to do so. The to host these AI-driven data centers are personal.
global race for AI research and de- gain economic, political and tech- CONCLUSION
velopment points to the need to gain nological advantages, strengthening This article first appeared in the web
early market power. As AI tools in- their global influence. This would add I will have a significant impact articles section of the website (www.
crease production through automa- to the existing inequalities amongst on global economies, national icwa.in) of Indian Council of World
tion, integrate into logistic networks, nations and further reduce access Asecurity and governance, rais- Affairs, New Delhi, on April 8, 2025

www.TheIndianEYE.com