Throughout history, power has been controlled by those who possessed land, weapons and capital, as well as knowledge. In line with the approach outlined in Jared Diamond’s *Guns, Germs, and Steel*, data, algorithms and artificial intelligence are taking the place of guns and steel today.
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a strategic power that processes data, predicts trends, and influences perception and decision-making mechanisms. While a significant portion of global data is concentrated in a small number of technology companies, computing power, chip production and cloud infrastructure are also concentrated in specific hubs. This creates a new divide between those who produce data and those who turn it into power, as well as a risk of dependence for societies that lack their own infrastructure.
The debate over “AI imperialism” is bringing to the agenda not only the benefits in education, healthcare, science and public administration, but also the concentration of technological power in certain hands. On September 22, 2026, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned of “techno-polarization” and “digital hegemony” at the 81st UN General Assembly, calling for the acceleration of binding international law and UN regulations.
Why it matters
This text examines power relations surrounding artificial intelligence not as a settled picture, but within a historical and political framework of interpretation. The central point of the debate is that the disparity between societies that produce data and centers that control the capacity to process that data can create dependence in critical areas ranging from education to public administration. For this reason, the issue is not limited solely to the influence of technology companies; it also raises questions about countries’ capacity to develop their own infrastructure and how access to the benefits provided by artificial intelligence will be regulated. The call voiced from the UN podium leaves open the question of whether the concentration of power in the digital sphere can be addressed through international law and shared rules.