Why International Cooperation on AI Matters

WHY INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON AI MATTERS

Artificial intelligence development is proceeding at extraordinary velocity, with fundamental capabilities advancing faster than our institutional capacity to govern them. The systems being developed today will reshape economic structures, reconfigure military power, and potentially alter the basic conditions of human agency. Yet whilst AI capabilities transcend national boundaries, governance remains fragmented across competing jurisdictions, creating a dangerous mismatch between the scope of the technology and the scale of our response.

Catastrophic Risk Cannot Be Contained Nationally

Advanced AI systems pose risks that respect no borders. A catastrophic malfunction, whether through misalignment of system objectives or unforeseen emergent capabilities, threatens global stability regardless of where it originates. Similarly, malicious deployment of AI capabilities for bioterrorism, large-scale manipulation, or autonomous weapons affects the international system as a whole. No individual nation can insulate itself from these risks through domestic regulation alone.

The Race Dynamic Undermines Safety

When countries and companies compete to develop AI capabilities first, safety considerations become a competitive liability. If one actor believes others are cutting corners on safety to gain advantage, rational self-interest pushes all actors toward riskier development pathways. This race dynamic cannot be solved by any single jurisdiction acting alone. International cooperation is the only mechanism that can align incentives toward responsible development.

Economic Disruption Requires Coordinated Response

AI-driven automation threatens massive labour displacement across economies. Without international coordination on workforce transition, social safety nets, and equitable distribution of AI benefits, we risk deepening global inequality and social instability. The challenge is not merely technological but fundamentally political and economic, requiring cooperation across borders.

Democratic Governance Under Threat

AI systems capable of large-scale manipulation, sophisticated disinformation, and pervasive surveillance threaten democratic institutions globally. Authoritarian regimes are already deploying these capabilities domestically and exporting them internationally. Protecting democratic values requires coordinated international response, not isolated national efforts.