Between Digital Geopolitics and Algorithms instead it will be the “journey” that will be undertaken in Gorizia, Tuesday 7 Mayin the main hall of the University of Trieste in the city, home of the degree course in International and Diplomatic Sciences. Starting from the study carried out by The European House – Ambrosetti in collaboration with the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, with the contributions of national and international experts, we will better understand the growing intersection between geopolitics and technology, and why it is essential to start with the definition Of “digital geopolitics”.
There traditional geopolitics, in fact, deals with the study of geographical influences on political power and relations between states, considering factors such as geographical position, natural resources and demography. Now, with the advent of digital technologies, geopolitics has embraced a new dimension where physical location is less relevant than connectivity, information flow and technology.
The algorithms, defined as sets of programmable instructions or rules to perform calculations or other operations on data, have become a crucial tool in this new field. In digital geopolitics, algorithms not only process enormous amounts of data, but also influence economic, social and political decisions on a global scale. This includes thedecision automation in critical sectors such as national security, finance, and critical infrastructure management. The relevance of algorithms in geopolitics is manifested through their role in shaping individual and collective behavior, surveillance, disinformation, and the conduct of cyber warfare, as well as in their use in diplomacy and negotiation. At the same time, the ability to control or influence the architecture of these algorithmic systems represents a significant form of power. The “race” for technological dominance among world powers: the United States, China, Russia, and other nations see technological progress as a fundamental element for strengthening their influence and power on a global level.
L’technological innovation, particularly in the field of AI, has become a battleground for economic and military hegemony. With the advent of modern computation in the 20th century, logarithms took on a central role in technology, enabling the automation and effective processing of large amounts of data. With the evolution of thecomputer hardware in the 40s and 50s of the last century, algorithms began to become more and more sophisticated. Their importance has grown exponentially with the development of the internet and digital technologies, enabling applications ranging from simple searches for information on search engines to complex artificial intelligence algorithms that can learn and adapt.
The algorithms they have become a fundamental component of the socio-economic fabric of contemporary society, capable of influencing decisions and processes in a wide range of sectors. These IT tools, through automation and data analysis, have the power to guide choices that impact the lives of millions of people every day.
