Europe’s hurdles
There was little disagreement over the fact that the systematic collection of data is more difficult for private companies in the West than for China’s tech giants. For that reason, economists and technologists worried about Europe’s ability to reconcile privacy restrictions with a thriving tech economy. The logic is simple: In order to keep up, companies must be able to train AI systems with accessible data, which is why the EU has become more attuned to the need to facilitate data flows, as exemplified by its recent free trade and investment treaty with Japan.
At the Berlin roundtable, which included more private sector representation, there was even greater concern that Europe is falling behind in the global AI race. For German entrepreneurs in Europe’s leading economy, the lack of essential EU funding, nonexistent unity among member states, and a difficult environment for the collection and application of data are all indications that Europe is not living up to its full potential. Examining proficiency in emerging technologies from a foreign policy perspective has, unlike in the United States, never had strong traction in Europe, and it is only slowly starting to change. But many agreed that the EU risks becoming even more dependent on external players if it does not develop a stronger policy stance on emerging technologies altogether.
Divisions among EU member states, however, make this a very difficult endeavor, with regards to both a coordinated tech and China policy. It is no surprise that southern and eastern EU member states want to be more accommodating to the PRC, given the fact that their economies have benefitted greatly from Chinese investments, adding to their recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. Alongside the geographical splits, there’s an ideological one, too. While some believe that Europe should look at China through more cooperative lenses, understanding the relationship as a healthy competition; others were more critical and urged caution, highlighting the importance of infusing algorithms with democratic and liberal norms.
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Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Third parties don’t want to choose sides
Many worry about what could follow Pax Americana, especially since providing global security has always been a costly endeavor. A European Union (EU) approach was that Europe could serve as a bridge between the United States and China, somehow mitigating the ever-intensifying rivalry.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Cooperation in a bipolar world
Taking into account China’s growing influence around the world, discussions often alluded to an uncomfortable truth: In order to avoid catastrophe, even rivals must cooperate, which is why participants, particularly at roundtables in Europe, were keen to identify a number of areas that could lower the tensions and help build trust among antagonistic stakeholders.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
China’s ambiguity
Speaking more broadly, interlocutors in Beijing emphasized that international cooperation has always been important to China’s economic development, alluding to the fact that the most successful innovations and AI advances often come from international research collaborations.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Worries about AI externalities
There is no doubt that emerging technologies have gained significant importance over the last couple of years, but a sense of caution is required when it comes to the hype surrounding AI. Technologies have so far remained a tool and their applications won’t be solving all of humanity’s problems anytime soon.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
India’s quest for digital sovereignty
Similar to Europe’s “Third Way Approach,” and in order to navigate between the US and the Chinese models, India is also trying to develop a concept of digital sovereignty, all the while mitigating negative externalities of great power competition.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Technology for good
By focusing on healthcare, food security and agriculture, education, or infrastructure, global AI competition could be given a very different spin, mitigating the rivalry aspect of politics. How modern technologies should be centered on serving those broader global interests was at the core of the discussions in the roundtable focused on Africa.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Smart partnerships for global challenges
In order to give the global AI competition a different spin and emphasize the “technology for good” approach, it would be wise to highlight organizations that focus on AI applications in healthcare, education, food security and agriculture, or infrastructure endeavors, particularly in a post-Covid-19 recovery.
GeoTech Cues by Mathew Burrows, Julian Mueller-Kaler
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