The Sovereignty Gap in U.S. AI Statecraft

(Pablo Chavez – Lawfare) As the India AI Impact Summit kicks off this week, the Trump administration has embraced the language of “sovereign AI.” Through the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the emerging American AI Exports Program, the administration is seeking to position the United States as a partner that can help countries build sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities using American technology. But there is an irony to this: The concept of AI sovereignty is one that many countries are developing specifically to reduce their reliance on the United States. The traction that sovereign AI is gaining around the world reflects, in significant part, unease about U.S. policy. Many countries developing AI systems are hedging against the possibility that Washington will change the rules, restrict access, or use technology dependence as leverage. That hedging is pushing partners toward notions of sovereignty that may be incompatible with what the administration is prepared to offer. That offer might look like a reasonable middle ground in a more stable policy environment, but it’s less attractive in a period marked by tariff disputes with allies and partners, questions about multilateral commitments, and rising tensions within alliances. Whether partners will accept Washington’s version of AI sovereignty is a central question for U.S. AI statecraft. The answer will shape whether U.S. sovereign AI efforts reinforce reliance on the United States or accelerate other countries’ hedging strategies. – The Sovereignty Gap in U.S. AI Statecraft | Lawfare