Postcards from a technopolar world

What if regulation makes the AI monopoly worse, and other arguments on tech and geopolitics. FEBRUARY 13, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     Matthieu Bourel Illustration for Foreign Policy Last year in Foreign Policy, Jared Cohen and Ian Bremmer wrote of a[global credibility crisis]( for nation-states, one that is “creating space for the world’s biggest private technology companies to play larger, more autonomous roles in global politics.” This emerging “technopolar” world—in which power and sovereignty are diffusing away from countries and institutions and toward tech firms—means FP has to change how we think about coverage, too. A number of recent articles have examined the burgeoning links between technology companies and geopolitics. In “[The Bridge Builder](,” the latest FP interview, Doug Beck—the new head of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit—makes the case for drastically speeding up defense tech procurement in order to compete with China. Beck, who spent 13 years at Apple before moving over to the public sector, is clear-eyed about the necessary role of tech companies in achieving this goal. “Demand for technology drives advancement in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotech, energy, etc. that are in some areas simply always going to go faster than anything that is bespoke for a defense-only environment,” he told FP’s Rishi Iyengar. Speaking of artificial intelligence, two new arguments take on the contested subject of government involvement in the technology. Bhaskar Chakravorti, the dean of global business at Tufts’ Fletcher School, asks a provocative question—“[What if regulation makes the AI monopoly worse?](”—before outlining some ways for policymakers to avoid this fate. And in “[The Problem With Public-Private Partnerships in AI](,” co-directors of the AI Now Institute Amba Kak and Sarah Myers West suggest that tech companies need to get better about identifying AI’s societal benefits before governments pour too much money in. Subscribers can add “Science and Technology” to their [My FP profile]( to receive articles on tech with an FP lens direct to your inbox.—The editors   New and Noteworthy - Nothing Left to Lose: Nauru, a country that once claimed the world’s [second-highest]( GDP per capita, is on a mission to boost its economy to what it once was. FP’s Christina Lu details the rise and fall of the country’s fortunes and its newest plan, which might be “[one of its most controversial bets yet](”: deep-sea mining for minerals powering the global energy transition. - Everyone Wants a Chip Factory: Passed in August 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act is “one of the Biden administration’s signature pieces of legislation, [earmarking]( nearly $53 billion in subsidies and investment to convince semiconductor chip companies to move their factories” back home, FP’s Rishi Iyengar [writes](. Since then, some of the highest-profile projects are reporting delays, while the European Union and Japan, to name a few, are also looking to bolster their semiconductor supply chains. What’s next? - NATO’s ‘Arctic Sparta’: By joining NATO in April of last year, Finland abandoned the policy of military neutrality it had maintained since shortly after World War II. The Finnish town of Ivalo is now the closest base to mainland Russia accessible to U.S. troops, which opens [new doors for collaborations]( and highlights the military capabilities Finland built up prior to joining NATO.   FP Live [Gita Gopinath on the Global Economy]( On DemandIs the global economy in better shape than we expected in 2024? And if so, how do we keep it that way? The latest projections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show growth holding up amid slowing inflation—but geopolitics could easily play spoiler. IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath joined FP Live for an in-depth discussion. [Watch]( the conversation now. [The White House and Global Conflict]( On DemandThe White House has stepped up its deployment of both hard and soft power to try to influence the course of conflict in the Middle East. This comes as the U.S. has attacked a range of Iran-backed groups in the region as a reprisal for the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan last month. Will any of these measures calm what has so far been a growing regional conflict? FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with James Stavridis, a retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral and former NATO supreme allied commander, on FP Live. [Watch]( the conversation, or [read]( the Q&A now. [What Is Tehran Thinking?]( On DemandThe White House has already said it will retaliate against Iran—or its proxies—for [causing]( the first U.S. deaths in the Middle East since Oct. 7. But how? What do we know of Iran’s real relations with a hazy network of militias across the Middle East, and how might an American response lead in turn to further counterattacks? Two experts on Iran and the Middle East joined FP Live to answer these questions: Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who has advised several U.S. administrations on the Middle East, and Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House. [Watch]( the conversation, or [read]( the Q&A now.   Save up to 50% today [Subscribe to FP](.   Exercise Your Mind Which European leader arrived in Washington on Friday for talks with President Joe Biden about stalled U.S. funding for Ukraine? - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk - French President Emmanuel Macron - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz You can find the answer to this question and learn more at the end of this email.   FROM FP EVENTS [AI Diplomacy]( As the AI boom continues, nations across the globe are racing to harness and regulate the power behind Generative Artificial Intelligence and examine the dangers and opportunities it presents, especially in the world of foreign policy. Join Foreign Policy in partnership with the Special Comparative Studies Project for the fourth installment of Promise Over Peril, and hear from experts on how the future of diplomacy could rest on the shoulders of AI. [LEARN MORE](   Most Popular on FP [Ukrainian soldiers take part in medical training on the front line in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 14.]( [5 Rules for Superpowers Facing Multiple Conflicts]( Ukraine, the Middle East, and Taiwan are part of an unstable frontier—and require a more principled U.S. strategy. By Jakub Grygiel, A. Wess Mitchell [Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump listen while he speaks during a rally in Conway, South Carolina, on Feb. 10.]( [Trump’s NATO Bashing Confirms Europe’s Worst Fears]( The former president’s comments come as European military leaders warn of a potential war with Russia. By Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch [A wax likeness of Austrian founder of the psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud sits in Berlin's Madame Tussaud's wax museum, during a press preview of the museum on July 3, 2008. ]( [The Neurotic Fixations of U.S. Foreign Policy]( A close look at several ruts that American policymakers are currently stuck in. By Stephen M. Walt [British soldiers from Anzio Company of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment take part in FIWAF (fighting in woods and forests) training on Oct. 26, 2018, in Haslemoen, Norway.]( [Scandinavia Is Preparing for War]( As NATO expands, Europe’s far north is tangibly shifting to combat footing. By Brett Simpson [5 Rules for Superpowers Facing Multiple Conflicts](Ukraine, the Middle East, and Taiwan are part of an unstable frontier—and require a more principled U.S. strategy. By Jakub Grygiel, A. Wess Mitchell [Trump’s NATO Bashing Confirms Europe’s Worst Fears](The former president’s comments come as European military leaders warn of a potential war with Russia. By Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch [The Neurotic Fixations of U.S. Foreign Policy](A close look at several ruts that American policymakers are currently stuck in. By Stephen M. Walt [Scandinavia Is Preparing for War](As NATO expands, Europe’s far north is tangibly shifting to combat footing. By Brett Simpson   From Around FP - Scalable Climate Policies: Emerging from [COP28](, world leaders, climate experts, and a range of stakeholders are seeking to mobilize investment into sustainable energy solutions. Against this backdrop, join Foreign Policy in partnership with Florida International University at the Third Annual Environment Forum to discuss the climate-related strategies capable of driving impact at scale. [Register now]( for the free and virtual event. - Defending Democracy: Join Foreign Policy in partnership with the National Democratic Institute to learn how international and citizen election observers, as well as political leaders themselves and election commissions, are promoting electoral integrity in 2024. Utilizing new technologies, independent verification tools, and more, these game-changers are seeking to enhance public confidence in elections. [Register now]( for the free and virtual event. - Assessing Gender Equality: Join host Reena Ninan and reporters across Africa in [The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO)](, an award-winning podcast from FP made possible in part through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to assess promises made about gender equality—and whether leaders are truly delivering on them. Look out for new episodes every Tuesday on [Apple](, [Spotify](, or wherever you enjoy podcasts. Answer: D. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. European lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the U.S. Congress’s inability to pass a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv, FP’s Amy Mackinnon [reports](. [Subscribe to Foreign Policy]( [Sign up for SitRep]( [FP is heading to the Munich Security Conference Feb. 16-18. Sign up for the Situation Report newsletter for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most consequential gatherings of world leaders.]( [GET ON THE LIST](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's This Week newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2023 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.