Strategic and financial requirements for a sovereign AI infrastructure
File(s)
Author(s)
Chemla, Gilles
Islam Quddus, Tahmid
Li, Simeng
Type
Working Paper
Abstract
Sovereign AI refers to the ability to develop, operate, secure, control, and sustain critical AI systems under geopolitical or operational stress-ensuring continuity and growth of AI services even if energy supplies are disrupted, global supply chains fragment, or cloud access is restricted. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes integral to business, government, and society, questions on sovereign and defense AI infrastructure have moved to the forefront. This paper points out that achieving AI sovereignty requires sustainable control over key dependencies in the AI stack (such as energy, commodities, computer hardware, cloud platforms, data, algorithms, and information systems). To achieve this, countries need to own an increasingly integrated web of technology, innovation, supply chain, financial infrastructure, information systems, education, and to have adequate governance and political systems in place. We propose a framework of requirements for sovereign AI, outlining the essential measures needed to make AI capabilities resilient against external shocks. This perspective requires an in-depth transformation of economic systems to ensure technological sovereignty for NATO and its allies.
Date Issued
2026
Citation
2026
Publisher
Elsevier
Copyright Statement
The copyright holder has granted SSRN a license. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Identifier
https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/g.chemla