Is Weaponising “Fear of AI” An American Narrative For AI Supremacy?

Drawing insights from interviews with just 200 individuals, including top executives from prominent AI firms, cybersecurity experts, weapons specialists, and government officials, the findings paint a stark and concerning picture of the evolving AI landscape.

According to the report by Gladstone AI, a training and research firm in the field of advanced artifical intelligence, competitiveness is driving companies to expedite AI development, often prioritising speed over safety and security measures. This trend heightens the risk of the most advanced AI systems being vulnerable to theft and subsequent weaponisation, potentially posing significant threats to the United States and its interests.

The report, which labels AI as a potential weapon of mass destruction, offers valuable insights. However, it's crucial to recognise that such a report itself has the potential to be weaponised against innovation.

Moreover, governments may leverage such findings to justify restrictive regulations that serve their own interests rather than prioritising the well-being of their citizens. This underscores the need for a balanced approach that considers both the potential risks and benefits of AI development, ensuring that regulations are not driven by self-serving power plays but rather aim to promote innovation while safeguarding against potential harms.

But then, the US has always been a modern day narrative spinner. It sets its sights on what it could potentially use as a power-and-privilege against the rest of the world. It has been in love with itself as the global big brother.

Let's be clear: AI is not the only threat facing humanity. The concerns surrounding AI are undeniable, but they are just one piece of a larger puzzle of global challenges. Just as we grapple with the looming threat of climate change and once feared the devastating impacts of AIDS until breakthroughs were made, we must also recognise the ongoing battle against diseases like malaria, which persist despite our efforts.

Governments and regulators are tasked with the formidable responsibility of stalling or forestalling these impending dooms. It's akin to a child expecting a parent to eradicate human poverty as a birthday gift – a daunting task that requires concerted effort and collective action on a global scale.

Unanswered Questions

While there is a growing expectation for the US government to address AI-related challenges, such anticipation overlooks several critical factors.

Firstly, does the government possess the necessary competence to navigate the complexities of AI regulation and governance effectively? Secondly, is there sufficient capital available to deploy robust protection measures and develop safety nets to mitigate potential risks?

Moreover, can the US instill confidence among all other nations regarding its approach to AI, given the inherent global implications of technological advancements? Lastly, does the nation have the critical mass of tech usage required to set industry standards and lead by example in addressing AI issues?

Furthermore, the notion of expecting the US government to single-handedly solve AI-related challenges is naïve at best and reckless at worst. This selective fear-mongering serves one purpose: to consolidate power and privilege for the US and its allies.

A New Era of Geopolitics

In reality, AI has become the latest tool in the arsenal of global dominance. Just as nations have historically weaponised resources and technology to further their agendas, AI serves as a catalyst for asserting geopolitical influence. This is evident in the race for AI supremacy amongst nations like US, China, UK , where each vies for control over the narrative and technological advancements.

The United States, while significant, is just one player among many others on the global stage. Yet, it exploits the field of AI as its latest governmental click-bait, assuming the role of the global big brother. AI has become the buzzword not only in corporate boardrooms but also in government chambers, serving as a tool to garner attention and wield expanded powers. 

While the genuine challenges of AI weaponisation within societal structures cannot be denied, it's essential to recognise that governments have a long history of weaponising various resources to assert dominance. The recent US report on AI threats is nothing but a calculated geopolitical manoeuvre aimed at controlling the global narrative to its advantage.

Make no mistake, the US has a track record of using industry lobbies and regulations as weapons to bolster its domestic economy, spanning sectors from pharmaceuticals and arms to technology. This power play extends to the fields of data, where American firms dominate the cloud service provider market, raising legitimate concerns about the potential weaponisation of global data against unsuspecting nations.

Such blatant manipulation and exploitation demand scrutiny and collective action to safeguard against unchecked dominance and manipulation by any single entity.

The pursuit of AI dominance epitomises self-serving interests, particularly for powerhouse nations like the US and China, given the immense economic stakes involved – with the AI business valued at a staggering US$15 trillion globally. This narrative serves to legitimise the actions of these nations on the global stage, framing their endeavours as the de facto standard for AI development and governance.

However, the quest for supremacy in AI heralds a new era of geopolitical competition akin to an arms race, where every nation vies for dominance and asserts its global influence. In this fiercely competitive landscape, achieving global governmental consensus and collaboration around AI seems increasingly unlikely, as each nation prioritises its own strategic interests and ambitions in the race for technological superiority.

Despite the hype surrounding AI, let us not forget the unparalleled capabilities of the human mind. While machines may excel in processing data and executing tasks, they lack the depth of human consciousness and social conscience.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that AI remains a tool for progress, not a weapon for oppression. Leaders spanning politics, policy, and industries must acknowledge this reality and adopt a firm stance in advocating for ethical AI advancement, promoting international cooperation, and preventing the weaponisation of technology.

Only through such concerted efforts can we harness the transformative potential of AI for the advancement of humanity, rather than allowing it to control us.

(The author is a policy researcher and corporate advisor. He is also the Editor and co-author of ‘Time for Bharat’ (a book on public governance). Views expressed are personal)