Data is the New Oil: The Fuel for Sovereign AI

What comes to mind when the term “Oil” is being read or heard? A fluid substance that is liquid in nature and slightly sticky in properties, right? But have you ever thought or imagined a world where data is now the new oil only, instead of only fueling the vehicles, it’s supercharging the next big revolution: sovereign AI. We have been driven into AI age by data, which is most sought-after assets, the same way the industrial age is once propelled by Oil. But there's a catch—when it comes to sovereign AI, this new fuel, “data, “comes with multi-layered security, complexity, and the responsibility of keeping away from cyber thieves and getting misused. Artificial intelligence was developed in the late 20th century, this digital development led to a volcanic eruption to mark the significance of data that not only thinks but does so with a sense of national responsibility. Let’s understand how data is becoming the oxygen of AI systems.

The term “Data is the new oil” was principally coined by a British mathematician and data science entrepreneur, Clive Humby, in 2006. This phrase was repeated by several others, but it got traction and became famous when the vice president of Gartner, Peter Syndergaard, mentioned that “Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine.”

During the 20th century, oil was the powerhouse, and it revolutionized the industries, transformed the economies of the nations, and political hunger to grab the oil made the nations rise and fall. The way oil was important during the Industrial Revolution, the same way data has been important to the digital economy since the AI revolution. Data is the new oil. It has great significance, but it can’t be used in an unrefined form. To create a valuable entity that drives profitability, oil has to be converted into chemicals, gas, plastic, etc. So, data must be broken down, refined and analyzed for it to have value addition for the big data economy.

Since data is the key player today, we find ourselves in almost a similar situation as we fast forward to today. Just as oil is drilled, we are now mining for data. And same as oil, data is refined before it can be used. The way oil plays a pivotal role in the industrial revolution, the same way data is important for the growth of the digital economy. The data has become the most valuable resources of the century due to the expansion of the digital economy.

Data is available in abundance, it’s present everywhere. At an unprecedented rate, data is being generated when we scroll social media platforms mindlessly and use smart gadgets at home. These data are the raw material and when it’s refined and processed, the resultant products come before us in the form of user behavior that can produce insights, drive decisions and even forecast the future. But the real magic takes place when these data are pumped to fuel AI systems, especially Sovereign AI.

Sovereign AI, you ask? It’s different from normal AI, which might have been developed by global giants with a one-size-fits-all approach. This AI system is designed to keep the interests and needs of a nation. Sovereign AI is customized to fulfil the specific requirements of a country. It’s like having a custom-built sports car, but only for national data strategy. Sovereign AI works in the national jurisdiction and has to abide by the law of the land. Data as the new oil has to be used judiciously and not to be misused. It ensures that respects the cultural, economic, and social contexts of the nation it serves.

Here’s where things get interesting, and the game begins. Sovereign AI propagates on data—lots of it. It’s widely said that “The more jaggery you add, the sweeter will be the honey” Exactly, the same way the more data Sovereign AI has, the more it will be capable enough to produce better insights. The better it can understand, learn, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the nation it serves. However, it’s not just about quantity; quality matters a lot. Just like raw oil needs to be refined for its actual effects, data needs to be cleaned, structured, and enriched before it can be embedded into AI systems.

Let’s consider healthcare data. A nation having Sovereign AI can forecast outbreaks, manage resources, and personalized medicine for the netizens by using its health data. To address the nation’s unique health challenges and do this effectively the data must be accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.

The great power comes with great responsibility, and data sovereignty is no exception. The Data, as the new oil, must be protected from the ever-lurking cyber thieves. It’s as precious as the Oil. The concept of data sovereignty comes into play since Sovereign AI commands that data is kept within the national boundaries, used ethically, and managed under national laws.

The core aspect of data sovereignty is to make sure that it must not be shipped off to a faraway location where it’s processed, analyzed, and potentially misused for unethical purposes. Data sovereignty, in an era of global data theft, breaches and privacy concerns, is becoming as critical as a military fort.

Okay, let’s have some interesting and fun parts with this. Imagine your data is a buffalo—yes, a buffalo. You take care of it, feed it and in return, it provides you milk (or in our case, insights). But would you allow your neighbors to milk your buffalo whenever they feel like it? Absolutely not! The same applies for data. Sovereign AI ensures that your buffalo—err, data—stays at your farm, is milked at the appropriate time, and that’s only for your family.

Or consider this—In your grandma’s famous recipe, data is the secret sauce. You wouldn’t allow anyone else to steal it and sell it in a generic bottle, would you? Sovereign AI acts as keeping that grandma recipe in the family only and ensuring that the legacy should be passed down safely to create dishes that are uniquely yours.

In conclusion, undoubtedly data is the new oil that is powering everything from technology to smart homes, and to national security. But it’s crucial to note the significance of Sovereign AI as we tap into this valuable resource. This isn’t just only about having the pool of data; it’s about utilizing it in a way that’s ethical, responsible, and aligned with national interests. So, the next time you hear someone saying, “Data is the new oil,” remember—it’s the modern-day fuel that’s driving us into a future where AI doesn’t only think but does so with sovereignty in mind.