World leaders want American AI. They just don’t want America to be able to turn it off.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concerns at the G7 summit regarding the potential for the United States to unilaterally restrict access to American artificial intelligence technologies. This apprehension was amplified by a recent, albeit temporary, service disruption experienced by Anthropic, a leading AI company. The incident, which lasted for approximately two hours on March 14, 2024, highlighted the vulnerability of global AI infrastructure to single-point failures or deliberate shutdowns originating from the U.S. This blackout affected users of Anthropic's AI models, including its flagship product, Claude. The event underscored the geopolitical implications of AI development, with nations increasingly reliant on U.S.-based companies for advanced AI capabilities. Leaders are now exploring strategies to ensure greater AI sovereignty and reduce dependence on any single nation's control over these critical technologies. The G7 discussions aimed to foster international cooperation on AI governance and security, seeking to balance innovation with the need for resilient and accessible AI systems for all participating countries. The incident served as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness and potential fragility of the global AI ecosystem.