Framing the Future of AI: Policy Dilemmas and Solutions

Not just since the trade conflict between the USA and China, technological interdependencies were problematized. The debate about technological interdependence has gained new momentum due the Covid-19 pandemic. Public voices increasingly question not only the dependence on foreign supply of medical goods but also the imports of various critical technologies in general. China's political discourse has long emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty in fields like artificial intelligence as a key factor in the country's long-term development. In western countries, calls to strengthen “digital sovereignty” and autonomy are multiplying and are now introduced to the fields of artificial intelligence too. But is the notion of "sovereignty" a practical solution for AI applications? The implications remain unclear. The danger of rising techno-nationalism and harmful societal side effects need careful consideration.