Everyone Wants Sovereign AI - No One Really Has It - #10

Series: "Geopolitics of AI"

Sovereignty is the buzzword. From Paris to Canberra, Riyadh to New Delhi, the world’s governments are racing to localise the AI value chain—building models in their native languages, launching hyperscale data centres, and invoking the rhetoric of digital independence. But as The Information's blockbuster report this month makes clear, the reality is far murkier.

This edition of The Geopolitics of AI is anchored in The Information’s sweeping exposé on global efforts to challenge U.S. AI supremacy. The report—featuring startups like Aleph Alpha, Sarvam AI, and Naver—reveals how countries are racing to develop “sovereign AI” that aligns with local norms, languages, and politics. But at every stage of the value chain, from chips to cloud, U.S. dominance proves hard to shake. We explore this sovereignty paradox through the lens of that piece, layering in supporting examples from Australia to the Gulf.