Multilateralism in the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This paper examines how international multilateralism addresses AI's emergence, focusing on principles, state coordination, and the integration of AI into existing and new multilateral frameworks, emphasizing state dominance despite multi-stakeholder involvement.

Contribution

It analyzes the features of AI multilateralism, including its principles and the role of states within evolving multilateral frameworks for AI governance.

Findings

AI multilateralism incorporates epochal change, determinism, and dialectical principles.

AI issues are integrated into existing frameworks and new ad hoc AI-specific forums.

States remain the key decision-makers despite multi-stakeholder participation.

Abstract

This chapter inquires how international multilateralism addresses the emergence of the general-purpose technology of Artificial Intelligence. In more detail, it analyses two key features of AI multilateralism: its generalized principles and the coordination of state relations in the realm of AI. Firstly, it distinguishes the generalized principles of AI multilateralism of epochal change, determinism, and dialectical understanding. In the second place, the adaptation of multilateralism to AI led to the integration of AI issues into the agendas of existing cooperation frameworks and the creation of new ad hoc frameworks focusing exclusively on AI issues. In both cases, AI multilateralism develops in the shadow of the state hierarchy in relations with other AI stakeholders. While AI multilateralism is multi-stakeholder, and the hierarchy between state and non-state actors may seem blurred, states preserve the competence as decisive decision-makers in agenda-setting, negotiation, and implementation of soft law international commitments.