Cory Doctorow argues that the push for "sovereign AI" is misguided, as AI remains a money-losing technology that has consistently underperformed its promises and would cause little real economic harm if suddenly switched off. He contends that the far greater threat to other nations lies in their dependence on everyday American software and infrastructure — such as Microsoft Office or agricultural technology — rather than AI chatbots. The article broadly agrees, concluding that countries like those in Europe should prioritise building independent alternatives to critical digital infrastructure.
