GEOPOLITICS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: ASSESSING PAKISTAN’S STRATEGIC AUTONOMY IN THE EMERGING GLOBAL AI POWER COMPETITION

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in global geopolitics, reshaping traditional notions of power through control over data, computational infrastructure, algorithms, and semiconductor supply chains. This study examines the geopolitical implications of AI with a focus on Pakistan’s strategic autonomy in the emerging global AI power competition. Using a qualitative, policy-oriented analytical approach based on secondary data, the study explores how AI is redefining national power in terms of technological sovereignty, digital dependency, and strategic capability. The findings indicate that global AI governance is highly concentrated in technologically advanced states, particularly the United States and China, creating structural asymmetries that limit the autonomy of developing countries. Pakistan’s AI ecosystem reflects early-stage development characterized by limited computational infrastructure, dependence on foreign digital platforms, and insufficient research and development capacity. Despite emerging policy initiatives aimed at digital transformation, the country continues to face significant constraints in achieving full AI sovereignty. The study concludes that Pakistan’s position in the global AI hierarchy represents a condition of “selective strategic autonomy,” where partial domestic capability coexists with sustained external dependency. Strengthening indigenous AI infrastructure, human capital development, and regulatory frameworks is essential for enhancing Pakistan’s long-term strategic positioning in the global AI order.