May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor... With Sovereign AI?

The Capitol's Got Nothing on Big Tech

Well folks seems like even *after* all the Games there's still a fight for control. This time it's not over grain but… Artificial Intelligence? Apparently some folks at this fancy CNBC conference in Bangkok (never been sounds like District 1) are worried that the big companies like our good friends Anthropic and OpenAI are hogging all the AI power. They're calling it 'Sovereign AI,' which basically means countries want to control their own AI stuff. Makes sense right? Nobody wants the Capitol… I mean Big Tech… dictating how things work.

English? More Like 'Eng LAME'

One of the panelists Kasima Tharnpipitchai Head of AI Strategy at SCB 10X (seriously what *is* an SCB 10X?) pointed out that these fancy AI models mostly speak English. I get it. Trying to explain a Mockingjay pin in English to someone who’s only ever heard District 1 propaganda is like trying to hunt a squirrel with Peeta’s bread baking skills. Point is different languages different cultures different ways of thinking. If the AI only speaks English it’s missing a whole world of well *worlds*.

700 Million Reasons to Fight Back (Digitally)

Apparently this ASEAN region – almost 700 million people! – is ripe for taking control of their own AI. Lots of young tech savvy folks there. Jeff Johnson from Amazon Web Services (another one of those Capitol… I mean Big Tech… types) says it's important to 'democratize access to cloud and AI.' Which translated from Capitol speak probably means they see a big market. Still if it helps give these countries a fighting chance I'm all for it. As long as they don't start another Hunger Games of course. I've had enough of those thank you very much.

Open Source: Like Sharing Berries in the Arena (But Less Deadly)

So how do these countries actually *do* this 'Sovereign AI' thing? Open source AI models. Think of it as sharing those berries with Peeta – except instead of saving lives it’s about making AI available to everyone. This Tharnpipitchai guy says there's tons of talent in Southeast Asia and it would be a shame to keep it all locked up. Open source creates a 'collective energy,' he says. Sounds almost… rebellious. I like it.

China's Already Ahead? Someone Alert the Rebels!

Apparently China's been using open source AI to boost its own tech scene. Of course they are. Always have to be one step ahead don't they? Cecily Ng from Databricks (another company name that sounds like it belongs in the Capitol) says open source gives countries more options. Less reliance on those few big models. Makes sense. Diversify your hunting grounds right? Don't put all your eggs… or arrows… in one basket.

Pay As You Go AI? Is That a Mockingjay Approved Deal?

And get this – even Amazon’s Johnson says their cloud services let you 'pay for what you use.' Which sounds suspiciously like a good deal Capitol types almost never offer those... Cloud computing companies with operations in those countries are helping those emerging countries to localize AI says Prem Pavan Vice President and General Manager of Southeast Asia and Korea at Red Hat (I'm telling you these company names belong in the Capitol). The U.N. even chimed in saying AI could be worth trillions by 2033 but the benefits are concentrated. They’re pushing for shared AI infrastructure open source models and sharing knowledge. Seems like even *they* know the odds aren't exactly ever in everyone's favor.