[7th EAI Academy] ⑤ Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, and Other Advanced Technologies and Future World Politics

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaZgt6Qx6qE

Video Script

Technology and World Politics: Introduction and Historical Review

Today, I will discuss an introduction to technology and world politics. Technology is a relatively new topic among the research or discussion subjects in international politics. If you take an introductory course in international politics, you will likely learn about history, theory, security issues, political economy (trade, finance), ODA, and regional cooperation. This topic is new to the extent that it is not common to study technology issues separately.

First, I will give a brief introduction, then examine how technology has changed world politics in the past, and finally discuss how semiconductors and artificial intelligence, the core technologies of our current era, are transforming the military, economy, and governance of world politics. Semiconductors and artificial intelligence have become important strategic assets in world politics.

In military and economic terms, semiconductors and artificial intelligence are at the core of the US-China hegemonic competition. Recently, technological cooperation has also emerged as a crucial aspect of diplomatic relations. Diplomats must also learn about artificial intelligence, quantum computing, etc., to support cooperation. Accordingly, I will examine the current status surrounding US-China high technology, particularly semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and forecast future world politics.

Let's consider how important technology has been in world politics. Technologies that have significantly changed world politics include nuclear weapons, antimalarial drugs, and the telegraph. The advent of nuclear weapons drastically altered world politics, but it did not eliminate the fundamental framework of nation-states. However, it played a crucial role in national competition and security competition. Antimalarial drugs provided technological support for the invasion of Asia and Africa by Western powers during the imperialist era.

Imperial powers expanded their influence through military might, but this would have been difficult without technological support. In particular, before the development of antimalarial drugs, it was difficult to penetrate the interior of Africa, but these drugs made it possible. Even today, it is necessary to take antimalarial medication when visiting Africa. Thus, pharmaceutical technology is also important, and the medicines we consume are also products of advanced technology.

The telegraph was also an important means of communication. In an era before telephones and mobile phones were common, the telegraph had a significant impact on international politics. For example, a telegram sent by the German ambassador to Mexico during World War I influenced the United States' entry into the war.

The German ambassador sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico, mentioning the possibility of US entry into the war against Britain and requesting that Mexico instigate border disputes with the United States to divert American attention from Europe.

This telegram was intercepted by the United States, which led to its involvement. Furthermore, George Kennan's telegram analyzed the Soviet Union's expansionist ambitions shortly after World War II, advocated for containment, and played a crucial role in shaping US policy toward the Soviet Union.

Kennan sent a telegram analyzing that the Soviet Union needed to be watched and contained, which contributed to the US leadership's judgment that cooperation with the Soviet Union would be difficult.

Nuclear weapons have significantly altered international politics. For instance, North Korea's international political standing is vastly different from that of a country without nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons have played a crucial role in making North Korea a major focus of international attention.

Intensification of Technological Hegemony Competition and US-China Strategy

While technology has played a significant role in international politics to date, people often focus on the strategies employing technology rather than the technology itself. However, recently, technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors have emerged as central issues in international politics. This is a departure from the past.

It is uncertain whether past hegemonic powers possessed the leading technologies of their time. However, since the modern era, particularly from the 18th and 19th centuries onwards, possessing superior technology has become a prerequisite for becoming a world hegemonic power.

According to long-cycle theory, world political hegemony is determined by countries that lead in new technologies or pioneering industries. Britain, which led the Industrial Revolution after the 1800s, and the United States, which led in electrical, automotive, and petrochemical technologies after World War II, became hegemonic powers.

The country that excels in new leading sectors such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and green industries from the 2020s onwards is likely to become the next hegemonic power. The United States and China are fiercely competing to secure this technological hegemony.

In the 1980s, Japan emerged as a hegemonic competitor by threatening the United States in the automotive and semiconductor industries. At that time, the US faced a theory of economic decline, but Japan faltered, experiencing its 'lost decade'.

Consequently, the US revived in the early 1990s by leading the IT revolution, spearheaded by the internet. In contrast, Japan fell behind in the IT revolution and lost its former standing.

Military Applications and Changes in Artificial Intelligence

Currently, China is clearly the biggest challenger to the United States. China is challenging the US in the fields of artificial intelligence and semiconductors, and the US is striving to prevent this. However, there is also debate about whether AI and semiconductors are technologies that will decisively change world politics.

While it is not yet clear how AI and semiconductors will change world politics, there are some hints. In particular, the emergence of AI weapons in the military sector heralds significant changes. While nuclear weapons have an intuitive sense of immediate destructive power, the threat of AI weapons is not yet clear.

AI is expected to bring about significant changes in the military sector in three main ways. First, the development of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) with the ability to identify targets, make decisions, and execute operations. This involves robots or drones carrying out missions in place of humans.

Second, the advancement of autonomous weapon systems that enhance information gathering and analysis capabilities. Third, cognitive warfare utilizing generative AI. This involves infiltrating enemy positions through psychological warfare or the dissemination of fake news, and it is already being used in elections and other contexts.

Countries like Russia and China play a significant role in shaping public opinion, don't they? The same is true for our country. When an issue arises, while some express purely personal opinions, there are also many cases where specific groups intervene to shape public opinion. AI will play a very important role in shaping this public opinion. Furthermore, with the generation of numerous fake messages and simulations, and even the utilization of neural data through wearable devices, collective image manipulation may become possible. This could lead to a society incapable of communication, and the phenomenon of encountering only information selected by algorithms is something we are already experiencing in its nascent stages. In the future, this phenomenon is likely to occur in a much more sophisticated and seamless manner. Beyond this...

The combination of AI weapons with nuclear weapons also poses a significant risk of increasing the explosive power of nuclear weapons. Discussing how AI weapons are used in actual warfare will be more directly impactful than abstract discussions. Both the Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict are currently utilizing AI extensively. A recent major issue has been the Israel-Syria war. The Israeli Defense Forces, with their advanced technology, actively employ AI to gather information, analyze data, and select targets for airstrikes. The AI system is assigned missions and rapidly calculates how much force to use to destroy a specific building.

Timing is crucial, so AI performs these calculations. Tasks that used to take hours are shortened to minutes, and after review and approval, the attack is executed immediately. AI is thus highly efficient and can also reduce the possibility of collateral damage due to explosive force. Furthermore, it can minimize surrounding damage through precise strikes on target buildings, known as 'surgical strikes.' AI plays a crucial role in executing such operations. The article also mentions the 'Lavender program.' This program, developed based on AI, is used to identify suspected operatives belonging to the combat divisions of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). It analyzes various data left behind by these individuals using big data. It collects data from social media, etc., to identify and target Hamas operatives for whom official information is lacking.

Individuals identified through big data are designated as potential targets for attack. According to the article, approximately 37,000 Palestinians were targeted as operatives and attacked. Even if the targeted individuals were not actual operatives, the system would grant approval almost automatically, potentially leading to errors. The article points out that the system made an average of 10% errors and critically reported cases where individuals with loose associations or no connection at all were mistakenly targeted. However, some have evaluated the 10% error rate as a remarkably accurate level.

A 10% error rate in the overall big data analysis can be considered quite accurate. According to the article, targeted individuals were often attacked at home with their families after work, rather than at their workplaces or combat zones. This is because AI selects the most opportune time and place for attack, rather than the target's current location. The AI system's objective is simply to eliminate the target, without considering whether the target is with family or the possibility of civilian casualties. There have been many ethical concerns raised, leading to significant collateral damage.

Unlike 'Gospel,' which targets buildings or structures, 'Lavender' targets individuals. Personal mobile phones or belongings are used to track locations, and all activities, such as Google location tracking or mobile phone usage records, are subject to tracking. Warfare is being conducted in this manner. Early in the Ukraine war, US companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Peter Thiel's PayPal were among the first to intervene. When Ukraine's communication facilities were destroyed, Elon Musk provided Starlink satellite internet service to replace the communication network. This was a critical support, as warfare would be impossible without a communication network. In modern warfare, the destruction of communication networks is a primary objective, and Starlink provided a means to counter communication networks disrupted by electronic warfare. Peter Thiel performed a similar task.

Peter Thiel also played a crucial role in tracking Osama bin Laden's location and identifying his hideout during the operation to capture him. When difficulties arose in identifying his hideout within Pakistan, his presence was confirmed by analyzing the DNA of children in the vicinity and comparing it with Osama bin Laden's genetic information. This information was critical to the Navy SEALs' operation. Thus, AI supports warfare and intelligence activities with precision and subtlety through data analysis.

AI and the Economy: Automation, Platforms, and Inequality

The gap in combat effectiveness and precision between countries that utilize AI technology and those that do not is bound to widen. Not only the absolute strength of military power but also accuracy is important, and AI contributes to enhancing this accuracy. Therefore, the gap between countries equipped with AI weapons and those without, and between countries that utilize AI more sophisticatedly and those that do not, will further increase. In the economic sector, automation is key. While there are concerns about future employment, AI also creates new jobs. From an international political perspective, AI exacerbates competition between nations and widens economic disparities.

The gap between countries with large-scale AI platforms like Google and Instagram and those without will widen further. 50 to 60 years ago, Europe held a strong economic and world political position, but it does not have its own IT platforms. Even countries like France and Germany use Google and Instagram because they lack their own platforms. The same applies to the UK. Countries with their own platforms include the US, China, parts of Russia, and Naver in South Korea. South Korea is a unique case in that it possesses its own platform, Naver.

IT platforms play a crucial role in the AI economy because all activities are conducted through them. This is a critical factor determining national competitiveness. Currently, the US and China are fiercely competing over AI technology, building their own data and AI ecosystems. While the internet has a technically integrated architecture, China blocks access to foreign platforms like Google, Instagram, and YouTube, encouraging the use of its own platforms (Baidu, WeChat, etc.). This demonstrates the trend of bloc formation surrounding AI and data.

The recent TikTok controversy can be understood in this context. TikTok's parent company, China's ByteDance, is very popular among American teenagers, but the US government, concerned about American data leaking to Chinese companies, demanded the withdrawal of its US operations or the sale of its stake. This is a battle between nations to control AI, data, and platforms, and the world is showing signs of bloc formation.

This bloc formation leads to increased costs. In the past era of globalization, production bases were moved to countries with the lowest production costs, but the instability of supply chains has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and intensified US-China competition. As countries reduce their dependence on specific nations and strengthen domestic production, costs have risen. In the past, reliance was placed on inexpensive overseas production, but now domestic production has become more important.

Fierce competition can lead to excessive investment and risk. Nations are experiencing over-investment and intensified competition due to a sense of urgency to 'win.' Furthermore, AI raises concerns about the potential for job displacement and poses civilizational challenges regarding the relationship between humans and AI and the future of work. To solve these problems, global cooperation among nations is necessary, similar to the issue of climate change.

The threats posed by AI, like the issue of climate change, raise fundamental questions about the value and meaning of human existence. Global cooperation is needed to set the scope of AI regulation and explore utilization methods, but the logic of excessive competition makes this difficult. Moreover, AI exacerbates disparities between nations. The so-called 'global AI gap' can widen the gap between developed and developing countries.

Global Inequality in the AI Era and Algorithmic Imperialism

Since the 1980s, the gap between developed and developing countries has widened significantly through the Industrial Revolution and the Information and Communication Revolution. Currently, out of the world's population of 8 billion, approximately 3 billion people still lack access to mobile devices or the internet. This is a much larger scale than expected, and the situation in countries like China is even more complex.

Economic activities were conducted based on cost and efficiency because manufacturing in China was much cheaper. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic and US-China competition, situations arose where goods previously produced in China could no longer be supplied, leading to problems like the mask shortage. It wasn't that the US or South Korea couldn't produce masks, but rather that they didn't produce them domestically because Chinese-made ones were much cheaper. However, countries now face the situation of having to produce essential goods themselves.

In the past, we thought we could just buy from the cheapest source, but now we have to produce it ourselves. This results in increased production costs due to rising labor costs, among other factors. Furthermore, fierce competition can lead to risky and excessive investments. Due to the sense of urgency to 'win,' there is over-investment and intensified speed competition, with the US wanting to go faster than China, and China wanting to go faster than the US. Additionally, there are civilizational challenges posed by AI. When AI replaces human jobs, there are questions about how to define the relationship between humans and AI, and what humans should do for a living in the future. To solve these problems, all countries worldwide, including the US and China, must come together. This is similar to the issue of climate change.

The issue of climate change cannot be solved by China alone, nor by the US alone. Climate change is a problem that can only be addressed, if at all, through the concerted efforts of all countries worldwide, whether developed or developing. I believe the threats posed by artificial intelligence are similar in that they question the very existence of humanity and the value and meaning of human existence. Cooperation among nations is needed to establish the scope of AI regulation and explore utilization methods, but the logic of excessive competition makes this difficult. Furthermore, one of the biggest challenges posed by AI is the widening gap in world politics.

Although not detailed here, I believe you are well aware of it. It is the issue of the gap between countries that possess platforms and those that do not, often referred to as the 'global AI gap.' Looking at the historical trend of the gap between developed and developing countries, this gap has widened significantly since the 1980s. In the past, except for a few aristocrats or kings, most people were so poor that they struggled even to eat. The gap began to widen with the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, gradually expanding, and with the acceleration of industrialization and, crucially, the IT revolution, the gap widened dramatically.

Regarding the information and communication revolution, how many people out of the world's 8 billion population use mobile phones? Living only in Korea, one might think everyone does, but that is not the case. Out of the world's 8 billion population, how many do you think do not have access to mobile devices or the internet? Take a guess. 7 billion don't? No. It's far more than 7 billion not having access while others do. Is it around 5 billion? It's a bit less than 5 billion. It's over 5 billion. It's over 3 billion. According to current statistics from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), approximately 3 billion people still do not have access to mobile or the internet. This is a much larger population than expected. Even more surprising is China...

More than 10% of the populations of China and India still lack mobile or internet access. While one might associate limited mobile access with remote areas in Africa, approximately 100 million people in China and a similar number in India are still unable to access the internet. This is a very serious problem. The primary medium through which you perceive the world is the internet. While you may have an intuitive understanding of local events, most other information is acquired through social media. However, the information accessed through these channels pertains to only 5 billion out of the world's 8 billion people. Information about the remaining 3 billion is omitted. We must not overlook the fact that these individuals live in a different reality and that the advancement of AI will further exacerbate this disparity. It is within this context that the term 'algorithmic imperialism' emerges.

Companies in developed countries that possess AI algorithms, particularly companies like Meta, already have geographical information about Africa. This means Meta has more accurate information about Africa than Africans themselves. There is discussion about what will happen when this information is utilized. While some criticize this situation, others hold a positive view, arguing that platforms like Alibaba provide opportunities for small business owners in rural China to sell their products. Thus, arguments about opportunities and threats are sharply divided, and this is linked to the larger issue of the gap with developing countries. Furthermore, in a future where intelligence development is driven by big tech, the revenue of companies like Amazon or Google may exceed the GDP of 20 countries.

Intensifying US-China Competition in Semiconductor and AI Technology

The role these giant corporations will play in world politics is emerging as a significant issue. Thirdly, we must discuss technological competition. Through the lectures so far, we have seen that AI is transforming world politics and raising new issues. Not only the US and China, but also many countries like Europe, Japan, and South Korea are striving not to fall behind in this competition. In particular, the technological competition between the US and China is shaping the major trends of world politics, and currently, the US leads in semiconductor and AI technology fields. While the US seeks to maintain this advantage, it has a vulnerability in that although the US leads in semiconductor design, actual production is handled by Korean and Taiwanese companies.

The US initially produced semiconductors, but at some point, Taiwanese companies became competitive. US companies focused on high-value-added businesses centered on design, as manufacturing requires massive investment and yields relatively lower profits. However, China has now begun to encroach on the manufacturing sector. In 2015, China announced its goal in 'Made in China 2025' to foster high-tech industries and move beyond being a low-wage country. While this was merely observed by the Obama administration at the time, it became an overt target of criticism under the Trump administration.

The Trump administration criticized China for stealing US technology to produce low-cost goods, thereby weakening the competitiveness of American companies. To counter this 'economic invasion,' they began seeking ways to contain China, along with addressing the trade deficit issue. As a result, sanctions were imposed on companies producing advanced semiconductors. Measures were taken to prohibit transactions with US companies and restrict exports to Chinese companies.

Specifically, when a company like Huawei attempted to develop advanced mobile phones, the US banned the export of cutting-edge chips to China. These chips are used not only in the latest weapons but also in high-performance devices like your mobile phones. The halt in chip supply disrupted Huawei's plans to challenge Apple or Samsung, and its mobile phone business eventually declined. While it maintained its telecommunications equipment business, a gap still existed with Samsung and Apple in products made with its own technology.

The US began imposing sanctions in 2017 under the Trump administration, following China's declaration of 'Made in China 2025' in 2015. Initially, the sanctions were weak, but Chinese companies endured better than expected. However, the situation changed in 2020 when transaction restrictions were strengthened. Not only US companies but also all foreign companies using 25% or more of US equipment or technology had to cease transactions with China. This forced Samsung and Taiwan's TSMC to halt transactions with China, dealing a significant blow to the growth of Chinese companies.

From then on, Chinese companies began to face difficulties, and their growth can be considered to have effectively stalled. The Biden administration, contrary to a more conciliatory approach, actually intensified sanctions. In particular, the semiconductor equipment regulations announced in October 2022 strictly limit access to technologies above a certain level and remain in effect to this day. These regulations have gradually expanded, and currently, over 300 Chinese companies are subject to transaction restrictions. The difference between Biden and Trump is that while Trump focused solely on sanctioning China, Biden determined that the US must restore its advanced semiconductor production capacity to prevent China's technological advancement.

Consequently, the US has begun nurturing its domestic semiconductor companies, such as Intel and Micron, by providing substantial subsidies. It has also encouraged foreign companies like Samsung and TSMC to invest in the US and establish factories. This is due to concerns that if semiconductor production in South Korea and Taiwan is threatened during a war with North Korea or due to instability in the Taiwan Strait amid US-China conflict, the US semiconductor industry could also be impacted. Therefore, the strategy is to relocate semiconductor production bases to US territory. Furthermore, unlike Trump's 'America First' policy, Biden emphasizes cooperation with allies, forming alliances with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Europe to contain China.

In response, China emphasizes the necessity of developing its own technology. In this context, US-China supply chains are being separated, and the US does not believe China will remain technologically inferior forever. The US strategy is to delay China's technological development as much as possible while reorganizing its own forces and strengthening its advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities. This is to build strength to counter China. Currently, in the field of artificial intelligence, China shows strengths in basic research and data, but it faces difficulties in securing the computing power necessary for AI data processing.

Access to advanced chips is restricted due to US government regulations, and its domestic production capacity is also insufficient. Depending on the outcome of the presidential election later this year, the US's advanced technology strategy could reach a turning point. If Harris, a candidate from the Democratic Party, is elected, the Biden administration's policies on technological alliances and manufacturing support will likely continue. However, if Trump, a candidate from the Republican Party, is elected, he may take a negative stance on providing subsidies to foreign companies. While this may not be easy due to legal guarantees, it could affect the attraction of foreign companies' investments in the US, create cracks in alliances, and disrupt the strategy towards China.

This illustrates the significant impact the US presidential election outcome could have on the US's advanced technology strategy. If candidate Trump re-evaluates the provision of subsidies to foreign companies, investments by companies like Samsung or TSMC in the US could shrink. Furthermore, his stance on alliances could affect the effectiveness of the strategy towards China. It is difficult for the US to contain China alone, making cooperation with allies essential. Therefore, such uncertainty can act as a considerable risk.

South Korea's Role and Middle Power Alliances Amidst US-China Technological Competition

This table compares the situations of various countries. In terms of macro trends, the US is gradually losing vitality in terms of productivity and economic power, while China is on an upward trend based on its vast market and growth potential. If the US had left this situation unchecked, China's rise would have been faster. However, the situation has become complex as the US has actively intervened with policies to contain China. A key point to watch is whether the US's strategy to contain China and its 'America Revival' strategy will be effective, enabling the US to lead technological innovation once again, as it did in Silicon Valley in the 1980s. Unlike the way it responded to Japan's challenge in the past, China presents a more fundamental challenge in terms of scale and influence.

Science and technology are fundamentally based on objective truths that transcend political systems. Despite political confrontation between scientists from the US and the Soviet Union, they were able to cooperate in fields such as physics and climate change. Competition and cooperation must coexist in science and technology, but the current framework of US-China hegemonic competition is overwhelming the field of science and technology, making the possibility of cooperation in AI and semiconductors dangerous as it is overshadowed by competitive logic. Maintaining channels of communication and spaces for cooperation, even in areas where conflict is inevitable, may be the path to preserving human civilization.

Basic communication channels and spaces for cooperation must be maintained even amidst US-China conflict. During the past US-Soviet competition, there were instances of cooperation between scientists and the development of the polio vaccine. Currently, the US is technologically ahead, but China is rapidly catching up. AI possesses both innovative aspects and potential threats. Therefore, a balance between innovation and regulation is crucial, and companies like OpenAI tend to prioritize innovation. To address the side effects of social utilization, individual national efforts are insufficient, and global governance is necessary.

The US-China competition is hindering the establishment of this global governance. If things continue this way, humanity could face catastrophe, and the possibility of a third world war is being raised. The Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea are mentioned as potential conflict zones. It is important for humanity to come to its senses and seek cooperation, or at least establish minimal regulations and spaces for cooperation amidst competition. The third scenario, that is, pursuing both competition and cooperation, is the most realistic and the direction we should be heading. For South Korea, cooperation with the US is not an option but a necessity. South Korea's technological development, especially in semiconductors and AI, is difficult without cooperation with the US.

However, relying solely on cooperation with the US can be risky. Therefore, while centering on cooperation with the US, a certain level of relationship with China must also be maintained. Although relations with China have shrunk, there is a need to revitalize them. Furthermore, improving South Korea-Japan relations, which have been stagnant due to historical issues, is not beneficial for either country and should be approached proactively. Building a coalition of middle powers with other countries such as India, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia is also important.

In a situation dominated by the AI platforms of major powers, South Korea, as a country with its own AI platform, must preserve it. South Korea's past economic growth was possible through open trade and the free exchange of foreign capital and labor. Openness remains important, and if we choose isolation by closing our doors, we could face a situation similar to North Korea.

This table compares the situations of various countries. In terms of macro trends, the US is gradually losing vitality in terms of productivity and economic power, while China is on an upward trend based on its vast market and growth potential. If the US had left this situation unchecked, China's rise would have been faster. However, the situation has become complex as the US has actively intervened with policies to contain China. A key point to watch is whether the US's strategy to contain China and its 'America Revival' strategy will be effective, enabling the US to lead technological innovation once again, as it did in Silicon Valley in the 1980s. Unlike the way it responded to Japan's challenge in the past, China presents a more fundamental challenge in terms of scale and influence.

Science and technology are fundamentally based on objective truths that transcend political systems. Despite political confrontation between scientists from the US and the Soviet Union, they were able to cooperate in fields such as physics and climate change. Competition and cooperation must coexist in science and technology, but the current framework of US-China hegemonic competition is overwhelming the field of science and technology, making the possibility of cooperation in AI and semiconductors dangerous as it is overshadowed by competitive logic. Maintaining channels of communication and spaces for cooperation, even in areas where conflict is inevitable, may be the path to preserving human civilization.

North Korea's current state is one that South Korea could also fall into if similarly isolated. Therefore, an open system is essential for the survival of a country like Korea. However, the world is currently in a state of flux. There are many countries in similar situations to ours. The United States and China possess national power, so they can withstand such fluctuations. Japan, with its population of 100 million, does not have an export-dependent economy.

Technological Advancement and the Challenges Facing Human Civilization

With a population of 50 million, our country cannot sustain continuous growth with a faltering economy. Since there are many such countries, we must form groups. Therefore, our fundamental goal and direction should be to play a mediating role to prevent these countries from faltering. Technology is a crucial factor determining the future trajectory of global politics. However, technology alone cannot guarantee hegemony; its application within a specific context is what matters. Technological advancements do not alter the fundamental principles of international politics, such as anarchy and power competition. While technological competition is fierce, on the other hand, cooperation is absolutely necessary regarding the civilizational challenges posed by technological change and development. The most urgent issue is climate change.

This is related to our survival and the survival of the planet, so we must raise our voices more. This is because you are the ones who will remain on this Earth for a much longer time. Major powers must cooperate on climate and environmental issues to find solutions or ways to slow down the process. Artificial intelligence is also a critical issue, second only to climate change.

While there is a possibility of ruin due to artificial intelligence, it is difficult to conclude definitively due to numerous variables. In any case, we must strengthen our role as a middle power to elicit cooperation from major powers. I hope today's lecture serves as an opportunity to examine this in more detail. I wish you success in the remainder of your courses and in building your own assets. It was a pleasure meeting you today.

Bae Young-ja, Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Konkuk University.