Geopolitics of AI technical standards will heat up

Significance

This divergence has made the question of AI-related technical standards a particular area of commercial and geopolitical interest. China's priorities lie more in creating a market for its commercial exports than spreading its political norms overseas.

Impacts

• Western and other democratic countries will pay special attention to AI standards that have a bearing on human rights such as privacy.
• Standards for GenAI applications will be particularly thorny since anti-disinformation efforts could slip into political censorship.
• The consensus-based processes of international standards bodies prevent any one nation from dictating terms unilaterally.