Power politics in the age of AI

The article analyzes a shift in the global order towards a 'harder-edged realism,' where power is increasingly based on compulsion rather than persuasion, with a weakening of ethical frameworks in international relations. It highlights how technological advancements, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), are exacerbating this trend by enabling new forms of statecraft like economic coercion, technological dominance, and autonomous warfare, raising concerns about moral detachment and accountability. The piece contrasts this with historical moral leadership and suggests that India and Japan are uniquely positioned to foster international dialogue on ethics, technology, and global statecraft to ensure human judgment and accountability prevail in an increasingly competitive and technologically driven world.