The landscape of global technology is being reshaped by artificial intelligence (AI), with the United States and China currently dominating the field. According to Hicham Kasraoui, a researcher at the Moroccan Institute for Strategic Intelligence (IMIS), this has left about 80% of the world's population on the sidelines. Kasraoui argues that the AI revolution is not just about technological competition or economic rivalry, but also about power dynamics and security.
Kasraoui believes that Europe, India, and Africa have a vested interest in exploring a third way, one that promotes a more balanced governance of technology and a human-centered approach to AI. By working together, these regions can create a collective strategic autonomy, allowing them to have a greater say in defining international standards, sharing critical resources, and diversifying technological value chains.
The potential benefits of such an alliance are significant, according to Kasraoui. Europe brings investment capabilities and normative influence, India contributes a large pool of digital talent, and Africa offers a dynamic demographic and growing markets. By combining these strengths, the three regions can develop alternative models, platforms, and infrastructures, reducing their dependence on American and Chinese tech giants.
Kasraoui cites the example of an open-source, multilingual AI model for public services and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Global South. This project could be supported by European funding and regulatory expertise, Indian engineering teams, and African markets and linguistic data. The result could be a shared, sovereign ecosystem adapted to local realities, supported by a market of over two billion people.
The energy sector is a prime area where this cooperation could be quickly materialized, according to Kasraoui. The development of AI on a large scale requires abundant, reliable, and competitive energy, making it a critical area for collaboration. The alliance could create a common AI platform to optimize solar and wind power production, manage smart grids, and forecast energy demand.
Kasraoui emphasizes that the goal of this alliance is not to compete with the United States or China, but to ensure that the future of AI is not written by just two actors. By working together, Europe, India, and Africa can promote a more multipolar and inclusive vision of AI, one that prioritizes human needs and local realities.
The researcher concludes that the success of this alliance depends on its ability to overcome its own contradictions and move beyond political declarations. By focusing on concrete projects and leveraging their complementary strengths, Europe, India, and Africa can build a common AI value chain that promotes their shared interests and values.
Key points
- Europe, India, and Africa can collaborate on AI to promote a more balanced governance of technology and a human-centered approach.
- The three regions can develop alternative models, platforms, and infrastructures, reducing their dependence on American and Chinese tech giants.
- The energy sector is a prime area for cooperation, with AI playing a critical role in optimizing energy production, managing smart grids, and forecasting energy demand.
