Power in Purposeful AI: You Don’t Need a Foundation Model to Lead in AI
A working theory on how clarity of role beats compute scale
As AI reshapes global power, prosperity, and public trust, I’ve been testing a theory. What if leadership in the AI era isn’t about size, but clarity? What if the countries best positioned to benefit aren’t those with the most compute, but those with the sharpest sense of purpose?
That theory gained strength at the 2024 Global Action Forum, where I engaged with leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. The conversations were clear: the appetite to lead is there. The question is how.
The dominant narrative in AI policy still insists that to lead, you must build. Build compute infrastructure. Build large models. Build scale. But that assumption is not just outdated—it’s exclusionary. It limits the definition of AI power to those with billions in capital and access to cutting-edge chips. Everyone else is told to consume, comply, or compete at a disadvantage.
This model of AI supremacy is starting to crack. There’s room now to think differently and more strategically.
A Role-Based Framework: A Strategic Approach to AI Power
Leadership in AI can take many forms. Not every country will build the next GPT. But every country can build power in AI by understanding which role, or combination of roles, it is positioned to play.
Here are some of those roles:
Infrastructure Builder
Application Developer
Talent Hub
Ethics and Regulation Pioneer
Data Powerhouse
AI Testbed
Trusted Collaborator
AI Consumer
Each role comes with different prerequisites. Some require high compute. Others rely on policy expertise, trusted institutions, or a dynamic startup ecosystem. None is inherently superior. What matters is alignment with a country’s current assets, values, and long-term goals.
I’m not suggesting that any role is off-limits. Countries should explore any path they find compelling. But I am urging strategic clarity—start with what is realistic based on your resources, appetite, talent base, and access to critical enablers. Roles can evolve. Ambitions can grow. But early alignment is key to delivering value now and setting up for future impact.
The Real Advantage: Diffusion, Not Just Invention
Jeffrey Ding’s Diffusion Deficit framework offers critical context. He differentiates between:
Innovation capacity: the ability to create new AI technologies
Diffusion capacity: the ability to deploy and absorb AI across sectors
Most of the economic and societal value from AI comes not from invention, but from deployment. That is especially true for countries with young populations, dynamic informal economies, or high-stakes service delivery challenges.
Kenya understands this. Its use of AI in agriculture, health, and identity systems shows how diffusion, not model-building, can drive development. Nigeria is blending infrastructure investment with policy and regulatory readiness, signaling a broader intent to shape the rules of engagement. Barbados is building forward with an ethics-first approach, emphasizing digital trust, citizen protection, and smart applications in climate, food, and public service.
These countries are not playing catch-up. They are playing strategically.
The Opportunity: Regional Power with Global Relevance
Right now we are poised to reimagine multilateral institutions—from the UN to G20 working groups. With traditional Western alliances under strain, regional blocs can step up as equal partners in setting AI norms. That transition will democratize power, transform isolated initiatives into strategic coalitions, and ensure diverse perspectives shape global policy. What could this look like in practice?
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could:
Start as an AI consumer, building government capacity using off-the-shelf tools
Emerge as a regional talent hub, anchored by Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire
Drive the creation of a West African AI ethics charter that reflects local values
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) could:
Lead as an ethics and regulation pioneer, especially on digital rights, climate equity, and cultural preservation
Serve as a testbed for AI governance and public service applications
Begin laying the foundation for regional data stewardship
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could:
Lean into foundation model development in markets like Singapore and Indonesia
Focus on AI infrastructure across Malaysia and Thailand
Expand diffusion and talent development in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and beyond
What all three regions share is the opportunity to align their internal roles with trusted external partners. No country needs to do everything. The real power lies in coalitions of complementary strength—where one country builds infrastructure, another develops applications, and a third pilots governance models. Shared strategy delivers scale, credibility, and collective influence. Together they form the building blocks of next-generation multilateral bodies, ensuring AI frameworks reflect diverse perspectives, boost collective security, and unlock economic opportunity for all.
How Global AI Strategy Shapes Your Security, Innovation, and Economic Opportunity
Decisions made in Accra, Port of Spain, and Jakarta will determine the strength of your digital defenses, the quality of the technology you use, and the jobs available in your community.
1. Improved Security
Cyberattacks know no borders. Malware honed in Nairobi or Jakarta can hit Chicago or Boston next. When every region strengthens AI governance and defenses, we all benefit from fewer breaches, less fraud, and lower remediation costs.
2. Better Products and Ecosystems
AI tools built for local challenges, like precision farming in Kenya or climate modeling in Barbados, often spark breakthroughs that scale globally. Those solutions fuel richer, more reliable technology in your daily life, from smarter apps to more responsive services.
3. Economic Benefits and U.S. Job Growth
As Global Majority innovators deploy AI solutions, they open new markets for U.S. companies in cloud services, analytics, cybersecurity, and more. That demand creates positions in sales, engineering, and support. Joint R&D partnerships and talent exchanges bring fresh expertise back to American firms and drive high-skill hiring across the country.
4. Collective Strength at Your Doorstep
When regions share open-source tools, pooled training data, and joint research, innovation accelerates everywhere. A policy framework piloted in ASEAN or CARICOM can guide state and local initiatives here at home—delivering better civic tech, public health models, and community-driven platforms.
Every advancement in a Global Majority country strengthens the entire AI ecosystem. That means safer networks, smarter products, and more career opportunities for you. Engaging with these strategic shifts today will shape a digital future that works for all of us, no matter where we live.
The Role of the Diaspora
Diaspora technologists, investors, researchers, and policy experts are a critical part of this equation. Many of us work inside institutions that shape the future of AI. We can serve as advisors, backers, and bridge-builders for countries pursuing AI strategies aligned with their unique contexts.
This is an invitation, especially to those from the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, to plug in and support your countries of origin. Offer technical expertise. Fund open infrastructure. Mentor emerging talent. Help build national AI strategies that are not just visionary but executable.
What’s Next
This role-based approach to AI leadership is a theory I’m continuing to develop, test, and refine. The insights from the Global Action Forum, as captured in the Global Majority AI Agenda report, have reinforced the urgency and relevance of this work.
I am working on a deeper dive exploring how countries and regional blocs can define and activate these roles, form alliances, and map enablers to near-term and long-term priorities. If you’re working on these questions or looking for collaborators, I want to hear from you.
The future of AI leadership will not be decided solely in Silicon Valley or Shenzhen.
It will be shaped by countries that move with strategic clarity, aligned purpose, and trusted partnerships.
This is the Global Majority’s moment to lead.
Let’s get to work.
I invite your feedback on this developing framework:
Which nations are already aligning compute, policy, or talent to step into these roles?
Where have you seen AI enablers mobilized effectively across borders?
What examples should we spotlight in the deep dive?
Dear Camille,
Thank you for sharing your article on AI leadership. The role-based framework you propose, which prioritizes clarity of purpose over sheer computational scale, is a refreshing perspective and speaks to a more inclusive and strategic approach to AI leadership.
In response to your questions:
Nations Aligning Compute, Policy, or Talent: Several countries, particularly in Africa, are aligning their policies and talent to leverage AI for practical solutions rather than focusing solely on infrastructure. For example, Kenya is focusing on AI applications in agriculture and healthcare, while Nigeria has invested in developing AI skills and regulatory frameworks to encourage innovation.
AI Enablers Mobilized Across Borders:
I’ve seen regional coalitions like ECOWAS in West Africa and CARICOM in the Caribbean mobilizing AI enablers effectively. By pooling resources, data, and expertise, these regions are creating frameworks for shared governance and ethical standards, while advancing the AI landscape through regional cooperation.
Examples for the Deep Dive: I believe the work Kenya is doing with AI in agriculture and health, and Barbados’ emphasis on AI ethics and governance, are great examples to spotlight. These countries are addressing local challenges while setting important precedents for ethical AI governance and implementation.
In my own work, I focus on bridging the digital divide in underserved communities, particularly among older adults and youth. I see strong alignment with your vision of local empowerment, as we aim to build digital literacy and provide the tools necessary for these groups to engage in the AI-driven world.
I look forward to your deeper dive into these issues and would be happy to discuss further or share insights from my work in AI strategy and digital inclusion.
Best regards,
Jonathan Julion