Today, the U.S. and China dominate the full AI stack, leaving the rest of the world with a difficult implicit choice: align with one version of the stack or sit on the fence between the two.
Unsatisfied with this choice and fearful of an AI-induced digital divide, a growing number of countries want to develop their own “sovereign AI” by gaining control over some, or all, of the key components of the AI tech stack.
Initiatives to advance sovereign AI are already underway worldwide, including in the African Union, India, Brazil, and the European Union.
Some of the loudest cries for “sovereign” AI have come from Europe. The EU’s concerns are understandable given its strategic vulnerabilities.
Beyond sovereignty, there is a strong global rationale for Europe charting the course for a “third AI technology stack.”
It would diversify and stoke market competition beyond the current geographic segments of the U.S. and China, increase technical and values-based innovation, and provide countries with an alternative aligned with democratic norms and product features that consumers want, including transparency, trustworthiness, and accountability.
In this sense, a European-led AI Stack could differentiate itself by raising the bar on data governance policies, monitoring and reporting standards, and environmental impact.
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