As AI’s influence grows, questions of sovereignty, which were once peripheral to digital policy, are now central to national strategy. Governments increasingly recognise that dependence on globally concentrated AI platforms, supply chains, and providers can limit control, introduce systemic risk, and constrain strategic options.

Over the past year, sovereign AI has shifted from a theoretical concern to a practical priority for both public and private sectors, driven by geopolitical volatility and rising awareness of technology risk. Achieving it does not require isolation or complete self-sufficiency; it is about resilience and retaining the authority to govern the systems that underpin state power, digital autonomy, and public trust.

This report authored by Ecosystm analysts, Darian Bird, Louise Francis, and Sash Mukherjee, explores AI sovereignty, offering insights on how states and organisations can maintain control, manage risk, and build resilience across technology, data, and societal impact.