Technologies can rarely be reduced to their mere commercial added value. The history of the Industrial Revolution teaches us that nation states have always endeavored to build or maintain political supremacy through pioneering economic achievements. In the age of digital upheavals, multiple disruptions and immense acceleration, this dictum still applies.

The topic of “artificial intelligence” plays a special role here – a technology that is currently being discussed worldwide and increasingly applied. As with any new technology, both the Cassandrian pessimists (such as Steven Hawking or Elon Musk) and the progress optimists (Mark Zuckerberg, Eric Schmidt or Bill Gates) contribute their theses on the future development of humanity. They widely vary from dark dystopia to paradisiacal future prospects.

Let us hope that the recently appointed Enquete Commission of the German Bundestag will counter an agitated and possibly overheated debate with sober stocktaking. Germany’s AI strategy, which is expected by the end of the year, must define quantifiable goals and concrete measures, which will then be vigorously implemented. The political crash barriers necessary for the use of automated machine learning need to be established.

Other countries are well ahead in this respect. They have long since defined AI strategies, developed business models and subjected ground-breaking applications to initial practical tests. Therefore, it is worth taking a close look at how other economies are dealing with the digital revolution: What regulatory framework conditions have they defined? How do they implement policy strategies and programs to create new industrial policy facts?

With this two-part publication, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation intends to give a comparative overview of the AI strategies of major national economies in order to provide food for thought and inspire the German debate. We believe: “Tech is politics” – and politics and civil society should give this more attention and discuss this more vigorously.