AI is Redrawing the Global Power Map, Analysis Warns
Former Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran examines how artificial intelligence is shifting the strategic hierarchy and challenging the Global South.
Artificial intelligence is evolving beyond a technical milestone into a primary driver of global power dynamics. A recent analysis highlights how the technology is fundamentally reshaping international relations and the strategic hierarchy of nations, moving AI from the realm of efficiency tools to a core instrument of statecraft.
These findings were detailed in "Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Geopolitics," published in Horizons, the journal of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD). The piece features insights from Shyam Saran, the president of the India International Centre and former foreign secretary of India, who examines the intersection of emerging technology and geopolitical influence.
The Geopolitical Shift
Saran posits that AI is not merely a tool for productivity but a geopolitical instrument capable of shifting the balance of power between established and emerging economies. The analysis suggests that the transition to an AI-driven era requires nations to aggressively adapt their national policies to avoid losing influence in an increasingly multipolar world. In this new landscape, the ability to develop and deploy AI is becoming a prerequisite for maintaining sovereign autonomy.
Strategic Vulnerabilities
For India and the broader Global South, this transition presents specific structural challenges. The analysis suggests that the ability to leverage AI will determine a nation's future economic stability and diplomatic leverage. Those unable to keep pace with the rapid deployment of AI capabilities risk falling behind in the global hierarchy, creating a new form of digital and strategic divide that could mirror previous industrial gaps.
Future Outlook
As AI continues to integrate into national security and economic planning, the focus now shifts to how nations in the Global South can bridge the gap in technical capability. While the overarching impact on global power is clear, the specific policy frameworks required to mitigate these vulnerabilities remain a critical area for ongoing development. The challenge for emerging powers is to ensure that AI becomes a tool for empowerment rather than a mechanism for further marginalization in the international order.