The Geopolitics of AI: Analyzing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Global Power Dynamics and International Relations

Abstract

This study examines artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force reshaping 21st-century geopolitics, international relations, and global power structures. Through comparative analysis of leading AI powers, the United States, China, and the European Union the research identifies three core drivers of AI geopolitics: strategic technology competition, economic influence, and military applications. The analysis reveals how AI innovation clusters in Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, and Tel Aviv function as new centres of geopolitical influence, while data sovereignty emerges as a critical dimension of national security and diplomatic leverage. Case studies demonstrate distinct governance models: China's state-led integration, America's market-driven defines innovation, and the EU's ethics-based regulatory framework. The study highlights urgent ethical and security challenges including algorithmic bias, autonomous weapons systems, and AI-driven disinformation that threaten international stability. Findings indicate that AI's network effects and economies of scale risk exacerbating global inequalities and creating digital colonialism, particularly affecting developing nations. The research concludes that effective global governance requires multilateral cooperation, adaptive regulatory frameworks, and inclusive capacity-building initiatives. International standards such as UNESCO's AI ethics recommendations and the EU AI Act provide foundational models for responsible innovation. The study advocates for collaborative approaches balancing national interests with collective security to harness AI's potential for global prosperity while mitigating systemic risks.