Tales of Cyberspace and Artificial Intelligence: Diverging Stakeholderships?

Johan Eriksson, Giampiero Giacomello

This article traces the evolution of the Internet from the 1990s to the 2020s and compares it with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly following the public launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. It identifies both parallels and divergencies between these two overlapping technological domains, focusing on the growing integration of AI into online applications. The central argument is that, whereas users once played a decisive role in shaping the Internet’s trajectory and politics, the contemporary AI landscape is dominated by two principal stakeholders: governments and private companies. User groups, by contrast, have become largely marginalized in debates on AI policy and regulation. While users in cyberspace historically acted as co-creators, they are thus far confined to the role of consumers in relation to AI. This shift toward elite-driven governance raises important concerns regarding the emergence of authoritarian tendencies in the development and implementation of AI and digital technologies in general.

The special issue “CTRL + Power: The Politics of Digital Authoritarianism” of Global Policy, is published in open access with the financial support of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo. The issue is part of the initiative “CTRL + power: the (geo)politics of digital authoritarianism”, an academic collaboration between T.wai, LSE IDEAS and the University of Torino.

Published in:

LinkedIn   Facebook   Twitter  

  • From the same author

  • T.wai Journals

    Biannual journal on the politics, foreign policy and socio-political dynamics of contemporary China
    Biannual journal on the international relations and international political economy of South-East Asia
    Quarterly journal investigating the extended concept of security and the human dimension of conflict

    Events & Training Programs

    TOChina Summer School 2026

    29JunMon - 10JulFri
    University of Turin - Campus Luigi Einaudi
    Lungo Dora Siena, 100 | Torino | Italy

    China Management & Business Program 2026

    01JunMon - 20JunSat
    Zhejiang Univ. Yuanzheng Int'l. Htl
    Jing Fang Lu, | Jia Xing Shi | China

    TOASEAN Summer School 2026

    08JunMon - 12JunFri
    University of Turin - Campus Luigi Einaudi
    Lungo Dora Siena, 100 | Torino | Italy

How can T.wai be useful to you?

Students

Researchers

Professionals & Companies

Government & Institutions

Copyright © 2026. Torino World Affairs Institute All rights reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy