The Geopolitics of AI

Abstract

This report examines the rapid transformation of artificial intelligence from a technological field into an arena of geopolitical competition shaped by economic, security, and industrial interests. It analyses the sources of power across the AI system, from advanced chips and semiconductor fabrication to data centres, energy, cloud platforms, models, and applications. It also explains how the United States, China, Europe, and the Gulf states are using these capabilities to build influence, protect supply chains, and secure access to critical technologies. The report is built around one central argument: national power in the age of AI will depend on how effectively countries manage their dependencies on others while developing capabilities that the wider system cannot easily replace.