An Empire is a huge area covering multiple groups of people and multiple kingdoms. Empires typically span multiple countries, traditions, and cultures.
Examples include the Roman Empire, the British Empire, the Mughal Empire, and the Mongol Empire. None of these historical Empires were built without pain and hardship. Each empire left a lasting impression and accomplished several goals that were important for history. Yet cries of pain were hidden in the making of these Empires, whether the Roman or the Mongol. Often, smaller traditions were sunk in the marshes of larger Empires. Some Empires did take care of minority groups and their traditions, but mostly the majority won. Often, Empires tried to learn the culture of smaller groups, but in the end a unified language and a unified culture prevailed, and the Empire moved on to pursue its objectives, to teach and preach its agendas, and to extend its boundaries. A single head of so many countries or states in an Empire made it even more demanding to follow one norm. Maintaining and sustaining an Empire requires the work of a large number of leaders who join hands to make the Empire a success. Common goals, common objectives, and a unified modus operandi were practised to make an Empire stand on its foot. Eventually when Empires served their purposes they broke into countries and states, following one language and unified knowledge howsoever painful the making of empires was.
This one norm is the EU state agenda too. The EU consists of many European countries and can be considered a modern-world Empire. The EU has 27 member countries, all of which have a positive approach to being in the EU. The EU has a strong influence on its member countries, and the projection of its power on EU countries can be seen through the EU AI Acts. These AI laws are too stringent for an AI company to spread its product in the EU market. The rules make it difficult for AI to breathe in the EU. Member countries have a second say in EU AI laws. How would AI dwell in the EU then? Should the rules be relaxed? Well, I am not saying that. I am saying that the rules are too tough. Yes, rules are required, but there must be some space for a sapling to spread its roots.
What would you call such an organization? An empire in modern-day history lessons. EU was formed in 1993 to end wars among countries in Europe. Yes, as other Empires in history, the foundation of the EU was also pain; to end pain, it was formed unlike historical Empires which were made with pains. Each member country has its own parliament and rules, but they are also all part of the EU. Now, for example, new AI laws. They are so strict that they make it much more cumbersome for small-scale organizations to launch their AI products in the EU market. Where should small-scale organizations go to market their start-up projects in AI? Given fines in amounts ranging from millions of dollars. OpenAI and other AI companies started as startups. Would such companies sprout in the EU now? Given the tough AI laws? Do member countries allow it? Yes, for now, but how long? Until Europe fully lags behind in AI? Not just lagging behind in AI but also lagging behind in the use of AI apps. The control is on use as well. Yes, safety for life matters, and they should use other means to safeguard people’s lives. This approach can derail major developments instead of taking the right steps to save lives. What if US companies give up on the EU as a market for their products because of these cumbersome mechanisms?
Now, AI has reached millions of people around the world. Until now, AI was limited to US-based companies, which generated significant foreign revenue. But now China is entering. To enter the market quickly, China is offering its models for free to gain fame and steal the market from US-based firms. The EU is not much in this picture. So far, if we consider the 7 AI companies ruling the world, they are from the USA or China. The user base of these companies spans borders and continents. These groups can be called distributed Empires, as these companies own the Artificial Intelligence used by these people. It’s not just software; it’s a brain. The Artificial Brain used by these companies divides the world into 7 parts. Not equal. Not of the same values. But there is a divide. People do use AI. People do choose what they like, which AI they want to pursue. If not broken in time, this can create 21st-century Empires. The AI Empires are fighting for subscribers around the world. The AI Empires have direct control over their followers. To break this, open source is a solution and the only solution apart from open weight models. However, as I mentioned before open source and open weights have its dangerous sides too. So laws must be made if open source and open weights are used to make new AI apps.
Thank you for reading.
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