Rowan Wilkinson
@rwilkinson.bsky.social
Love all things tech, geopolitics, humanitarianism and development policy. Currently at Chatham House 🌍 All views are my own
Pinned
The case for expanding digital public infrastructure
How open, scalable technology can serve citizens, preserve sovereignty and save money
www.chathamhouse.org
DPI is more than a technical solution: it is a new theory of change that reframes the digital state as a platform for innovation and sovereignty.
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
Excellent methodology piece from OECD - The geography of AI compute: Mapping what is available and where
Useful stats and insights on global distribution of public cloud AI compute 📊 oecd.ai/en/wonk/the-...
Useful stats and insights on global distribution of public cloud AI compute 📊 oecd.ai/en/wonk/the-...
The geography of AI compute: Mapping what is available and where
Countries count AI compute infrastructure as a strategic asset without systematically tracking its distribution, availability and access. A new OECD Working Paper presents a methodology to help fill t...
oecd.ai
October 31, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Excellent methodology piece from OECD - The geography of AI compute: Mapping what is available and where
Useful stats and insights on global distribution of public cloud AI compute 📊 oecd.ai/en/wonk/the-...
Useful stats and insights on global distribution of public cloud AI compute 📊 oecd.ai/en/wonk/the-...
DPI is more than a technical solution: it is a new theory of change that reframes the digital state as a platform for innovation and sovereignty.
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
The case for expanding digital public infrastructure
How open, scalable technology can serve citizens, preserve sovereignty and save money
www.chathamhouse.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:58 AM
DPI is more than a technical solution: it is a new theory of change that reframes the digital state as a platform for innovation and sovereignty.
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
Read our new paper on digital public infrastructure here: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/10/case...
"Whereas the United States aims for the export of its own values, Japan aims for interoperability based on the premise of diverse values."
An interesting read from @csis.org on Japan's pluralistic interoperable approach!
An interesting read from @csis.org on Japan's pluralistic interoperable approach!
Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension and fierce economic competition, Japan is emerging as a trusted global nexus in AI governance.
Read the full @ai.csis.org report on Japan’s agile AI governance: www.csis.org/analysis/jap...
Read the full @ai.csis.org report on Japan’s agile AI governance: www.csis.org/analysis/jap...
October 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
"Whereas the United States aims for the export of its own values, Japan aims for interoperability based on the premise of diverse values."
An interesting read from @csis.org on Japan's pluralistic interoperable approach!
An interesting read from @csis.org on Japan's pluralistic interoperable approach!
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
Four of OpenAI’s six big deal announcements this year were followed by a total combined net gain of $1.7trn among the 49 big companies in Bloomberg’s broad AI index plus Intel, Samsung and SoftBank. However, the gains for most concealed losses for some
What if OpenAI went belly-up?
To gauge the centrality of the AI superstar, we conduct a thought experiment
econ.st
October 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Four of OpenAI’s six big deal announcements this year were followed by a total combined net gain of $1.7trn among the 49 big companies in Bloomberg’s broad AI index plus Intel, Samsung and SoftBank. However, the gains for most concealed losses for some
It was an honour to join President of Estonia Alar Karis and Hannes Astok in a public panel on how Estonia built a digital society, chaired by Alex Krasodomski-Jones and with a presentation from Adam Rang.
For those interested, it is available online: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
For those interested, it is available online: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
How Estonia built a digital society
Alar Karis, President of Estonia, and other experts describe the Estonian experience as it rolls out its ground-breaking e-governance and digital identity infrastructure.
www.chathamhouse.org
October 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
It was an honour to join President of Estonia Alar Karis and Hannes Astok in a public panel on how Estonia built a digital society, chaired by Alex Krasodomski-Jones and with a presentation from Adam Rang.
For those interested, it is available online: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
For those interested, it is available online: www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
The Taliban is keeping millions in digital darkness.
Internet shutdowns are a human rights attack — cutting off people from education, healthcare, and vital information. Together with 60+ orgs, we demand they restore access immediately and #KeepItOn.
www.accessnow.org/press-releas...
Internet shutdowns are a human rights attack — cutting off people from education, healthcare, and vital information. Together with 60+ orgs, we demand they restore access immediately and #KeepItOn.
www.accessnow.org/press-releas...
Access Now - The Taliban must restore internet access across Afghanistan now
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition unequivocally denounce the ongoing nationwide internet blackout in Afghanistan and demand that the Taliban restore internet access immediately.
www.accessnow.org
October 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The Taliban is keeping millions in digital darkness.
Internet shutdowns are a human rights attack — cutting off people from education, healthcare, and vital information. Together with 60+ orgs, we demand they restore access immediately and #KeepItOn.
www.accessnow.org/press-releas...
Internet shutdowns are a human rights attack — cutting off people from education, healthcare, and vital information. Together with 60+ orgs, we demand they restore access immediately and #KeepItOn.
www.accessnow.org/press-releas...
Please join our discussion on the realities and risks of artificial intelligence today. 2 Oct, 18:00!
This event is a chance to hear from engineers from a leading AI lab and policy experts to cut through the noise & confront the reality of today’s AI ability.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
This event is a chance to hear from engineers from a leading AI lab and policy experts to cut through the noise & confront the reality of today’s AI ability.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
Beyond the hype: The realities and risks of artificial intelligence today
Join us for an event that doesn’t just ask what AI could become, but what it already is and why it should matter to you.
www.chathamhouse.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Please join our discussion on the realities and risks of artificial intelligence today. 2 Oct, 18:00!
This event is a chance to hear from engineers from a leading AI lab and policy experts to cut through the noise & confront the reality of today’s AI ability.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
This event is a chance to hear from engineers from a leading AI lab and policy experts to cut through the noise & confront the reality of today’s AI ability.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/o...
@hf.co - "Open source ensures that this power is distributed, transparent, and adaptable rather than concentrated in a few hands." huggingface.co/blog/frimell...
AI openness is a strategic move for those seeking greater tech sovereignty.
AI openness is a strategic move for those seeking greater tech sovereignty.
Open Source AI: A Cornerstone of Digital Sovereignty
A Blog post by Lucie-Aimée Kaffee on Hugging Face
huggingface.co
August 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
@hf.co - "Open source ensures that this power is distributed, transparent, and adaptable rather than concentrated in a few hands." huggingface.co/blog/frimell...
AI openness is a strategic move for those seeking greater tech sovereignty.
AI openness is a strategic move for those seeking greater tech sovereignty.
Such an important investigative piece - a must read
‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians
‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians
Revealed: The Israeli military undertook an ambitious project to store a giant trove of Palestinians’ phone calls on Microsoft’s servers in Europe
One afternoon in late 2021, Microsoft’s chief executive, Satya Nadella, met with the commander of Israel’s military surveillance agency, Unit 8200. On the spy chief’s agenda: moving vast amounts of top secret intelligence material into the US company’s cloud.
Meeting at Microsoft’s headquarters near Seattle, a former chicken farm turned hi-tech campus, the spymaster, Yossi Sariel, won Nadella’s support for a plan that would grant Unit 8200 access to a customised and segregated area within Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Such an important investigative piece - a must read
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
Donald Trump's AI Action Plan is in parts predictable, in parts surprising, and in total a clear illustration of a changing US approach to the rest of the world.
Read @alexkj.bsky.social's latest for Chatham House ⤵️
Read @alexkj.bsky.social's latest for Chatham House ⤵️
Trump’s AI Action Plan seeks customers, not partners
A move to create US open-source AI is a surprise – and a possible opportunity for middle powers like the UK.
www.chathamhouse.org
July 31, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Donald Trump's AI Action Plan is in parts predictable, in parts surprising, and in total a clear illustration of a changing US approach to the rest of the world.
Read @alexkj.bsky.social's latest for Chatham House ⤵️
Read @alexkj.bsky.social's latest for Chatham House ⤵️
Great research from my colleagues on how to sustain conflict data ecosystems and early warning systems amid disappearing funding and increasing data restrictions: www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
How can the conflict prevention community respond to disappearing data and funding cuts?
In the third series of UCL and Chatham House’s Innovation Network in Conflict Prediction, experts, policymakers and practitioners explored how to sustain conflict data ecosystems and early warning sys...
www.ucl.ac.uk
August 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Great research from my colleagues on how to sustain conflict data ecosystems and early warning systems amid disappearing funding and increasing data restrictions: www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
"Silicon Valley exploits this insecurity, dismissing politicians’ lack of understanding as grounds for excluding them from debate. But this logic is flawed" - Great article in the @financialtimes.com by @marietjeschaake.bsky.social on.ft.com/456lt1Z
Why politicians need to get over their tech insecurity
Those in the political sphere should not be ridiculed for asking important questions — even if they do lack technical expertise
on.ft.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"Silicon Valley exploits this insecurity, dismissing politicians’ lack of understanding as grounds for excluding them from debate. But this logic is flawed" - Great article in the @financialtimes.com by @marietjeschaake.bsky.social on.ft.com/456lt1Z
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
The UK can outcompete other middle powers by nurturing and attracting the best and brightest of the AI world but access to capital remains a barrier.
Read @alexkj.bsky.social and @rwilkinson.bsky.social's latest for @chathamhouse.org ⬇️
Read @alexkj.bsky.social and @rwilkinson.bsky.social's latest for @chathamhouse.org ⬇️
The UK can cement its place in the global AI race by nurturing talent
The UK can outcompete other middle powers by nurturing and attracting the best and brightest of the AI world but access to capital remains a barrier.
www.chathamhouse.org
July 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The UK can outcompete other middle powers by nurturing and attracting the best and brightest of the AI world but access to capital remains a barrier.
Read @alexkj.bsky.social and @rwilkinson.bsky.social's latest for @chathamhouse.org ⬇️
Read @alexkj.bsky.social and @rwilkinson.bsky.social's latest for @chathamhouse.org ⬇️
"Pursue AI Sovereignty through outward collaboration and resource sharing, and promoting open development guidelines" - New paper on openness from @demos-uk.bsky.social
demos.co.uk/research/the...
demos.co.uk/research/the...
The Open Dividend: Building an AI openness strategy to unlock the UK’s AI potential
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
June 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
"Pursue AI Sovereignty through outward collaboration and resource sharing, and promoting open development guidelines" - New paper on openness from @demos-uk.bsky.social
demos.co.uk/research/the...
demos.co.uk/research/the...
📣 Join us on Thursday (online or at Chatham House) for an open event on how policy and platforms can better protect minority groups online.
Sign up here: bit.ly/3HSdht7 #disinformation #pridemonth
Sign up here: bit.ly/3HSdht7 #disinformation #pridemonth
Battling disinformation: How can digital spaces be made safe for the LGBTIQ+ community?
This panel assesses how policy and platforms can better protect minority groups online.
bit.ly
June 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
📣 Join us on Thursday (online or at Chatham House) for an open event on how policy and platforms can better protect minority groups online.
Sign up here: bit.ly/3HSdht7 #disinformation #pridemonth
Sign up here: bit.ly/3HSdht7 #disinformation #pridemonth
A refreshing contrast to superintelligence narratives - arguing that past tech revolutions can teach us a lot about adoption, diffusion, impact and the role of institutions in shaping AI trajectory: @randomwalker.bsky.social @sayash.bsky.social knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-a...
AI as Normal Technology
knightcolumbia.org
June 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
A refreshing contrast to superintelligence narratives - arguing that past tech revolutions can teach us a lot about adoption, diffusion, impact and the role of institutions in shaping AI trajectory: @randomwalker.bsky.social @sayash.bsky.social knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-a...
An interesting, new analogy for semiconductor chips and AI in @iajournal.bsky.social. Some good take aways on international regulatory bodies and norms development:
academic.oup.com/ia/article-a...
academic.oup.com/ia/article-a...
Digital oil: chips, artificial intelligence and US national security
By drawing a fresh analogy with US policy and regulations in the oil sector, this policy paper offers pointers for a strategic blueprint for securing acces
academic.oup.com
May 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
An interesting, new analogy for semiconductor chips and AI in @iajournal.bsky.social. Some good take aways on international regulatory bodies and norms development:
academic.oup.com/ia/article-a...
academic.oup.com/ia/article-a...
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill
🔗 www.404media.co/republicans-...
🔗 www.404media.co/republicans-...
Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill
Republicans try to use the Budget Reconciliation bill to stop states from regulating AI entirely for 10 years.
www.404media.co
May 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill
🔗 www.404media.co/republicans-...
🔗 www.404media.co/republicans-...
A new expert comment from my colleague Isabella and I: bit.ly/4lHkFqT 📖
The debate over TikTok’s influence has exposed many weaknesses at the heart of US democracy and its information environment, but banning or changing the platform’s ownership alone will not fix these deep-rooted problems.
The debate over TikTok’s influence has exposed many weaknesses at the heart of US democracy and its information environment, but banning or changing the platform’s ownership alone will not fix these deep-rooted problems.
US ownership of TikTok won’t protect democracies from digital threats
Concerns over foreign-owned platforms may overshadow deeper-rooted threats in the global information environment. Beyond platform ownership, the US and other democracies need coordinated and consisten...
bit.ly
April 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
A new expert comment from my colleague Isabella and I: bit.ly/4lHkFqT 📖
The debate over TikTok’s influence has exposed many weaknesses at the heart of US democracy and its information environment, but banning or changing the platform’s ownership alone will not fix these deep-rooted problems.
The debate over TikTok’s influence has exposed many weaknesses at the heart of US democracy and its information environment, but banning or changing the platform’s ownership alone will not fix these deep-rooted problems.
Such an interesting take on USAID dismantlement consequences, from @newhumanitarian.bsky.social.
"Humanitarian data loss is just one part of a broader information collapse threatened by the US retreat from its global leadership role, but its consequences are immediate and deadly" bit.ly/3Fskfnj
"Humanitarian data loss is just one part of a broader information collapse threatened by the US retreat from its global leadership role, but its consequences are immediate and deadly" bit.ly/3Fskfnj
The data streams that underpin humanitarian response are about to collapse
Famine warning, needs assessments, health data: Humanitarian action will be groping in the dark if vital data sources are allowed to crumble.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org
March 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Such an interesting take on USAID dismantlement consequences, from @newhumanitarian.bsky.social.
"Humanitarian data loss is just one part of a broader information collapse threatened by the US retreat from its global leadership role, but its consequences are immediate and deadly" bit.ly/3Fskfnj
"Humanitarian data loss is just one part of a broader information collapse threatened by the US retreat from its global leadership role, but its consequences are immediate and deadly" bit.ly/3Fskfnj
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
Global Dialogues has launched at the Paris #AIActionSummit.
Watch @audreyt.org give the announcement via @projectsyndicate.bsky.social
youtu.be/XkwqYQL6V4A?... (starts at 02:47:30)
Watch @audreyt.org give the announcement via @projectsyndicate.bsky.social
youtu.be/XkwqYQL6V4A?... (starts at 02:47:30)
PS Events: AI Action Summit
YouTube video by Project Syndicate
youtu.be
February 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Global Dialogues has launched at the Paris #AIActionSummit.
Watch @audreyt.org give the announcement via @projectsyndicate.bsky.social
youtu.be/XkwqYQL6V4A?... (starts at 02:47:30)
Watch @audreyt.org give the announcement via @projectsyndicate.bsky.social
youtu.be/XkwqYQL6V4A?... (starts at 02:47:30)
2025... backsliding continues...
Breaking News: Meta said it would end its fact-checking program and rely instead on Facebook and Instagram users to add notes or corrections to posts. The move is likely to please the incoming Trump administration and its conservative allies.
Meta Reveals Plan to Alter Fact-Checking Program
The move will end a third-party fact-checking system and rely on users to add notes or corrections to posts. It is likely to please the incoming Trump administration and its conservative allies.
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
2025... backsliding continues...
"There is no shared Sino-Russian model of data sovereignty" - an interesting article from Liliya Khasanova & Katharin Tai, on China and Russia's approach to data localisation.
You can find it in the Journal of Cyber Policy's open access issue on cross border data sharing: bit.ly/4h3kOl1
You can find it in the Journal of Cyber Policy's open access issue on cross border data sharing: bit.ly/4h3kOl1
Journal of Cyber Policy
Cross-Border Data Sharing. Volume 9, Issue 1 of Journal of Cyber Policy
bit.ly
January 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"There is no shared Sino-Russian model of data sovereignty" - an interesting article from Liliya Khasanova & Katharin Tai, on China and Russia's approach to data localisation.
You can find it in the Journal of Cyber Policy's open access issue on cross border data sharing: bit.ly/4h3kOl1
You can find it in the Journal of Cyber Policy's open access issue on cross border data sharing: bit.ly/4h3kOl1
@theworldtoday.bsky.social has just launched its new edition!
Stories include the triple crisis facing Europe, the
weaponization of immigration in Latin America, conspiracy theorists in the White House, a quiz of 2024 global affairs and more! Read here: www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Stories include the triple crisis facing Europe, the
weaponization of immigration in Latin America, conspiracy theorists in the White House, a quiz of 2024 global affairs and more! Read here: www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
www.chathamhouse
December 9, 2024 at 5:08 PM
@theworldtoday.bsky.social has just launched its new edition!
Stories include the triple crisis facing Europe, the
weaponization of immigration in Latin America, conspiracy theorists in the White House, a quiz of 2024 global affairs and more! Read here: www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Stories include the triple crisis facing Europe, the
weaponization of immigration in Latin America, conspiracy theorists in the White House, a quiz of 2024 global affairs and more! Read here: www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
Reposted by Rowan Wilkinson
Taylor Owen, Director of The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy at McGill University, writes that the merger of state and tech power is a fundamental challenge to democratic governance in the digital age.
On the Coming Merger of Tech and State Power | TechPolicy.Press
Taylor Owen writes that the merger of state and tech power is a fundamental challenge to democratic governance in the digital age.
www.techpolicy.press
November 26, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Taylor Owen, Director of The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy at McGill University, writes that the merger of state and tech power is a fundamental challenge to democratic governance in the digital age.