Abstract: “Sovereign AI” refers to the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) led by sovereign states: domestically, it relies on the “supremacy” of sovereignty to strike a balance between industrial development and security risks; externally, it leverages the “independence” of sovereignty to pursue strategic autonomy and international influence. The theoretical implication of this concept derives from the technological characteristics of AI. The rapid iteration and inherent uncontrollable nature of AI compels states to assert their agency in technology governance. The general-purpose nature of AI requires state power to coordinate across multiple security domains. The cross-border mobility of technological factors of AI necessitates that “sovereign AI” pursue strategic autonomy premised on openness. To counter the monopolization of technical standards and governance rules, “sovereign AI” must assert its voice in international rule-making, thereby upholding the value of diversity in the global order. In recent years, an increasing number of Global South countries have been leveraging a “sovereign AI” strategy to respond to constraints such as “inadequate technological elements,” “vulnerability to security risks,” “structural inequality,” and “imbalanced governance discourse power.” The cases of Brazil and Indonesia demonstrate that “sovereign AI” plays a constructive role in empowering the Global South countries to achieve technological autonomy, safeguard national security, and enhance their discursive power. As a natural member of the Global South, China adopts a cooperative response towards “sovereign AI,” featuring a spirit of cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit, a capacity-building model integrating open-source strategies with localized deployment, and a solidarity approach to enhance global AI governance engagement.
Keywords: sovereignty, artificial intelligence, national security, Global South, technology governance
Author: ZHANG Shuyan, CHEN Zhimin
Source: Zhang, S. Y., & Chen, Z. M. (2026). The rise of “sovereign AI” in the global south and China’s cooperative responses. Journal of International Security Studies, 44(3).
Publish date: 2026/5/21
Original Link:
“主权人工智能”在“全球南方”的兴起及中国的合作应对.pdf
