Verity Harding, a former global policy head at Google DeepMind, warns that framing AI as an arms race risks undermining international cooperation needed for safe and equitable development. In a new essay anthology, she and other experts argue that the language used to describe AI shapes geopolitical engagement and policy outcomes. Harding notes that the metaphor has become dominant in discussions about AI, drawing parallels to the Cold War and nuclear weapons, which she believes restricts thinking and fosters competition over collaboration. The shift from international cooperation to rivalry, she says, reflects growing concerns about the technology’s potential dangers and the desire for national control.
Harding attributes the rise of the arms race narrative to several factors, including fears that AI could fall into the wrong hands and the influence of anti-regulation groups that portray China as a threat. The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 amplified public attention to AI, coinciding with global events like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which made discussions about AI and geopolitics more urgent. She also highlights the role of political tensions, particularly the US’s isolationist approach, in shaping AI policy and the broader geopolitical landscape. These dynamics, she argues, have made it easier to accept the arms race framing as a given, even though it risks limiting the potential for international collaboration.
Harding’s concerns are rooted in her experience at DeepMind, where she advised global leaders on AI’s risks and opportunities. She emphasizes that the technology’s development is heavily influenced by the political climate, with major powers like the US and China shaping its trajectory. The arms race narrative, she warns, could lead to excessive government control and less safe, beneficial outcomes, as countries prioritize competition over cooperation. The challenge, she says, is to maintain the ability to work together on critical issues like security and disease prevention, despite the growing dominance of the arms race metaphor.
Source: wired
