Description
Given the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the governance of such technology has become a new arena for geopolitical competition and asserting leadership in establishing international principles. While existing debates on global AI governance focus largely on major powers such as the United States, China, and the European Union, the role of middle powers – particularly those in the Global North – remains understudied. This article examines how middle powers contribute to the evolving landscape of global AI governance through a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and South Korea. It analyses (1) their positions on AI governance, which are informed by domestic priorities and by the need to respond to initiatives advanced by major powers, and (2) the diplomatic practices through which they seek to advance these positions at the transnational level. The findings demonstrate that middle powers have become increasingly important in shaping AI governance. However, differences in domestic preferences and in their strategies of hedging between major powers have led to divergent governance approaches. The study provides new insights into the agency of Global North middle powers in global AI governance and their role in sustaining and redefining order in an increasingly turbulent international system.
