Sovereign AI: What it is, and 6 strategic pillars for achieving it

From producing human-like text, generating new forms of digital art and effortlessly automating laborious tasks, Generative AI has shown unprecedented potential for transforming creative, technical and knowledge work. It is already profoundly impacting most industries.

Meanwhile, considerable new threats and risks have started to emerge and materialize from its widespread use: jobs displacement, misinformation and disinformation and deepfakes all have serious consequences on society, economy and national and international security.

Countries are beginning to recognize the dual-use nature of GenAI. They acknowledge its potential as well as its risks, and the profound implications for their economic growth as well as national security. As one would expect, an increasing number of countries are actively planning and building their own AI infrastructure, capabilities and industry in order to gear up their competitiveness and safeguard their future. They are developing what they consider as their own sustainable “Sovereign AI”.

By automating routine tasks and supporting creative, technical and knowledge workers, GenAI allows businesses to focus on innovation and strategic tasks, boosting productivity across various sectors. For instance, in the healthcare industry, GenAI can assist in diagnosing diseases with higher accuracy and speed than ever before. In the financial sector, it can improve fraud detection systems, saving millions.

Furthermore, fostering a domestic AI industry stimulate the high-tech sector and consequently augmenting other economic sectors that depend on it. In fact, AI is leading the next stage of digital transformation and is becoming pervasive and widely accessible.

Therefore, building a workforce that has the knowledge and skills to take advantage of this technology will lead to a fertile national innovation ecosystem that begets future technological advancements and create a national competitive advantage. Sovereign AI thus not only promises to propel economies forward but also positions countries as leaders in the global digital economy.

Sovereign AI, by its nature, is aimed at bolstering a nation's ability to protect and advance its interests through the strategic use of AI. AI's usage in the military, for example, is already growing, and there is no doubt that it will continue to accelerate, while the intersection between AI and cybersecurity is becoming a key global and domestic priority.

Over time, Sovereign AI aims to reduce reliance on foreign AI technologies by developing domestic AI capabilities and ensuring access to critical data, technologies, expertise and infrastructure nationally. This could protect the country from potential supply chain disruptions, therefore, reinforcing national sovereignty.

Developing Sovereign AI requires multifaceted, coordinated and sustainable efforts across several key areas. In general, there are six strategic pillars that guide nations in building their sovereign AI capabilities:

The journey towards Sovereign AI is complex and requires thoughtful and long-term strategic planning and implementation on the national level. As nations embark on this path, the goal is not to self-isolate but to ensure that they are not left behind in the rapidly advancing global digital race, all while safeguarding their interests and securing a competitive edge on the international stage.