Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence: Assessing Pakistan’s Strategic Autonomy in the Emerging Global AI Power Competition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijsas.v4i10.82Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Geopolitics, Strategic Autonomy, Digital Sovereignty, China–US RivalryAbstract
Artificial Intelligence or AI has become so integrated into our daily lives that it is already one of the factors that altered our understanding of geopolitics and the way we perceive the changes in the economy, security problems, etc. AI is now one of the most vital factors that can determine who is the winner in a global power rivalry, technological self-dependence and much more, as the superpowers - especially the US and China - are intensifying the competition. This work discusses the geopolitics of AI and the issue of Pakistan's strategic autonomy amidst the global AI competition. It is pointed out that AI is not simply a technology but rather an important factor in the power and independence of states in the era of digitalization. Pakistan is confronted with very big problems like lack of R&D, poor digital infrastructure, technology dependency, etc. However, it has chances through youth-led innovation, digital transformation, regional cooperation, etc. The paper employs a qualitative research method, first, to review the global AI competition and then to interpret Pakistan’s role in it. The conclusion that a lack of a well-defined national AI policy in Pakistan will make the country more dependent on technology, thus losing its strategic autonomy is derived from the study.
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