The ethics of national artificial intelligence plans: an empirical lens

Over fifty countries have published national infrastructure and strategy plans on Artificial Intelligence (AI), outlining their values and priorities regarding AI research, development, and deployment. This paper utilizes a deliberation and capabilities-based ethics framework rooted in providing freedom of agency and choice to human beings– to investigate how different countries approach AI ethics within their national plans. We explore the commonalities and variations in national priorities and their implications for a deliberation and capabilities-based ethics approach. Combining established and novel methodologies such as content analysis, graph structuring, and generative AI, we uncover a complex landscape where traditional geostrategic formations intersect with new alliances, thereby revealing how various groups and associated values are prioritized. For instance, the Ibero-American AI strategy highlights strong connections among Latin American nations, particularly with Spain, emphasizing gender diversity but pragmatically and predominantly as a workforce issue. In contrast, a US-led coalition of “science and tech first movers" is more focused on advancing foundational AI and diverse applications. The European Union AI strategy showcases leading states like France and Germany while addressing regional divides, with more focus and detail on social mobility, sustainability, standardization, and democratic governance of AI. These findings offer an empirical lens into the current global landscape of AI development and ethics, revealing distinct national trajectories in the pursuit of ethical AI.