Sharing the AI Windfall: A Strategic Approach to International Benefit-Sharing

If AI progress continues on its current trajectory, the developers of advanced AI systems—and the governments who house those developers—will accrue tremendous wealth and technological power.

In this post, I consider how and why US government[1] may want to internationally share some benefits accrued from advanced AI—like financial benefits or monitored access to private cutting-edge AI models. Building on prior work that discusses international benefit-sharing primarily from a global welfare or equality lens, I examine how strategic benefit-sharing could unlock international agreements that help all agreeing states and bolster global security.

Two “use cases” for strategic benefit-sharing in international AI governance:

1. Incentivizing states to join a coalition on safe AI development

2. Securing the US’ lead in advanced AI development to allow for more safety work

I also highlight an important, albeit fuzzy, distinction between benefit-sharing and power-sharing:

• Benefit-sharing: Sharing AI-derived benefits that don't significantly alter power dynamics between the recipient and the provider.

• Power-sharing: Sharing AI-derived benefits that significantly empower the recipient actor, thereby changing the relative power between the provider and recipient.

I identify four main clusters of benefits, but these categories overlap and some benefits don’t fit neatly into any category: Financial and resource-based benefits; Frontier AI benefits; National security benefits; and ‘Seats at the table’.

I conclude with two key considerations with respect to benefit-sharing:

• Credibility will be a key challenge for benefit-sharing and power-sharing agreements (See more)

• Benefit sharing strategies should account for potential risks. (See more)