Artificial intelligence and global power structure: understanding through Luhmann's systems theory

Abstract

This research attempts to construct a second order observation model in understanding the significance of Artificial intelligence (AI) in changing the global power structure. Because of the inevitable ubiquity of AI in the world societies’ near future, it impacts all the sections of society triggering socio-technical iterative developments. Its horizontal impact and states’ race to become leader in the AI world asks for a vivid understanding of its impact on the international system. To understand the latter, Triple Helix (TH) model along with Shannon’s information entropy has been used to operationalize system’s theory. This model uses Shannon’s information theory to calculate the uncertainty generated from the interactions between the sub-systems considered. Data for the latter has been taken from Sanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory 2019 report. It is found that European countries are the most effected in the AI era, with probability of losing their global influence and thus creating power void. Emerging powers such as India, Canada, South Africa and Brazil have better chances to fill the void and emerge as global influences.