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Why Vivian Balakrishnan Says AI Rules Must Include Small States
Balakrishnan’s core argument: AI and powerful technology firms are reshaping conflict and diplomacy, so global rules should include small and developing states—not just major powers and big tech. He pointed to risks including loss of human control, cyber enabled crime, economic disruption and widening inequality.
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Key takeaways
- Balakrishnan’s core argument: AI and powerful technology firms are reshaping conflict and diplomacy, so global rules should include small and developing states—not just major powers and big tech.
- He pointed to risks including loss of human control, cyber enabled crime, economic disruption and widening inequality.
- His proposed response was a candid, shared risk assessment and common norms developed by governments, technology companies and the wider international community.
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openai.comCreate a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What did Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan argue at Singapore International Cyber Week on Oct 15, 2026, about the growing influ. Article summary: Balakrishnan’s central argument was that AI and powerful technology companies are increasingly shaping conflict and diplomacy, so their governance cannot be left to a handful of powerful states or big tech firms. He call. Topic tags: general, general web, user generated. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, watermarks, charts with fa
At Singapore International Cyber Week on 15 October 2026, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan argued that AI and powerful technology companies are changing the landscape of conflict and diplomacy. Because the consequences cross borders, he said, the rules governing these technologies should not be controlled by a small group of governments or companies. 3
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Why he called for inclusive technology rules
Balakrishnan said small and developing countries should have a voice in setting technology rules and safeguards. The concern, as reported from his address, is that leaving decisions to influential states and major technology firms would sideline countries affected by the consequences but with less influence over the technology itself. 9
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Technology companies also matter to diplomacy because their influence increasingly extends beyond national borders. The address’s central point was that international engagement can no longer be treated as an exclusively government-to-government matter. 3
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The risks he highlighted
Balakrishnan warned that technological advances are moving faster than the ability to govern them. Reported risks included losing human control over increasingly autonomous systems, malicious use of technology for scams and ransomware, disruption to economies, and greater inequality and division within societies. 34
These concerns link technology governance to security and economic resilience, not just technical standards. Reporting on the speech also identified autonomous systems and cyber threats among the reasons for closer international cooperation. 5
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A shared compact, not a choice between safety and progress
Balakrishnan called for governments, technology companies and the wider international community to assess the risks together and establish shared norms and guard rails. The aim, as described in reporting on his remarks, was to manage dangers while allowing technological progress and its benefits to continue. 10
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That proposal puts inclusion at the heart of governance: countries with different levels of technological influence should have a part in shaping safeguards for technologies with global effects. The available reporting supports this broad argument, but does not substantiate several more specific details raised in the question, including the East India company comparison, examples from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and lessons from Singapore’s chairmanship of a UN working group. Those details should not be treated as confirmed from the source excerpts available here.
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What is the short answer to "Why Vivian Balakrishnan Says AI Rules Must Include Small States"?
Balakrishnan’s core argument: AI and powerful technology firms are reshaping conflict and diplomacy, so global rules should include small and developing states—not just major powers and big tech.
What are the key points to validate first?
Balakrishnan’s core argument: AI and powerful technology firms are reshaping conflict and diplomacy, so global rules should include small and developing states—not just major powers and big tech. He pointed to risks including loss of human control, cyber enabled crime, economic disruption and widening inequality.
What should I do next in practice?
His proposed response was a candid, shared risk assessment and common norms developed by governments, technology companies and the wider international community.
Sources
singaporelawwatch.sgRules governing tech can’t be monopolised by a handful of powerful states, big tech firms: Vivian
csa.gov.sgSpeeches
berita.mediacorp.sgNegara kecil perlu diberi peluang bersuara untuk bentuk peraturan teknologi baharu: Vivian Balakrishnan
straitstimes.comTech rules cannot be monopolised, says Vivian