When Technology Becomes Foreign Policy
By Sister Leah M
July 22, 2026 • 7-minute read
“The nation that controls the tools may someday influence those who depend upon them.”
Today’s Topic
A new diplomatic issue has emerged over advanced artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, the U.S. State Department has instructed American diplomats to reassure allies that the United States does not possess a “kill switch” allowing it to arbitrarily shut off access to American AI technology. The concern arose after a temporary restriction on access to certain advanced AI models fueled debate overseas about “digital sovereignty” and whether countries have become too dependent on technology developed elsewhere.
As I See It…
For generations, nations competed over land.
Then they competed over oil.
Today, they are increasingly competing over information, data, and technology.
That should get everyone’s attention.
The discussion about a so-called AI “kill switch” isn’t really about a button that turns computers off. It’s about dependence.
If a nation depends on another country for its communications, software, energy, medicine, or artificial intelligence, then that dependence can become a source of political leverage during disagreements.
History teaches us this lesson over and over.
Whether it was access to shipping lanes, oil supplies, computer chips, or rare earth minerals, countries have always looked for strategic advantages.
Artificial intelligence may become another one of those strategic resources.
That doesn’t mean governments will misuse it.
It does mean wise governments will ask what happens if access is interrupted during a crisis.
Those are reasonable questions.
Connecting the Dots
The history of civilization is, in many ways, the history of controlling essential resources.
The Roman Empire relied on roads.
The British Empire relied on naval power.
The twentieth century depended heavily on oil.
The twenty-first century increasingly depends on data, computing power, and artificial intelligence.
Economics teaches that dependence creates vulnerability.
If only a few companies—or a handful of countries—control the most advanced AI systems, others may naturally seek alternatives, not necessarily because they distrust today’s leaders, but because governments generally try to reduce strategic risks.
Some analysts argue that we are entering an era of “digital empires,” where influence comes less from occupying territory and more from providing the digital infrastructure that societies depend on. That idea is an interpretation rather than an established fact, but it is being discussed by scholars, policymakers, and technology experts.
From a spiritual perspective, many religious traditions caution against placing too much trust in human power alone. Whether one reads the Bible, the Qur’an, or other sacred writings, a common theme is humility. Human beings can create remarkable tools, but wisdom, justice, and accountability remain essential.
Technology may change.
Human nature changes more slowly.
Remember When?
There was a time when people believed the internet would naturally bring the world closer together.
In many ways, it did.
But it also became a battlefield for cybercrime, misinformation, espionage, and economic competition.
Artificial intelligence could follow a similar path.
The same technology that helps discover new medicines could also become part of geopolitical competition.
History reminds us that powerful inventions often carry both promise and risk.
What I’ll Be Watching
- Whether countries begin investing more heavily in their own AI infrastructure.
- New agreements among allies regarding access to advanced AI systems.
- Congressional debates over AI regulation and national security.
- Whether international standards for AI become more coordinated—or more fragmented.
Think About It
- Should essential AI systems eventually be treated like electricity or public utilities?
- How much technological dependence is too much for any nation?
- Can countries remain trusted partners while also competing for technological leadership?
- Does greater technological power require greater transparency?
- As artificial intelligence becomes part of daily life, what responsibilities should citizens expect from governments and technology companies alike?
The tools we build will influence the future.
But the values we build into those tools may matter even more.
And that’s how I see it.
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