The Sydney Dialogue: Tech and Security Lessons for the Indo-Pacific
On 2-3 September, 2024, Research Director Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy and Senior Research and Program Fellow Alana Ford attended the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s The Sydney Dialogue. Now in its fourth year, the conference brings together thought leaders and decision makers from across the world to grapple with the challenges and opportunities technology offers to the world. This year, when almost half the world will vote in an election, participants were especially focussed on how technological change is impacting security and democracies across the Indo-Pacific region.
After two days of rigorous discussion, three clear lessons emerged for the Indo-Pacific:
1. AI and National Security: Democracies (and Humanity) at Risk:
A central concern was the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential misuse, particularly in disinformation campaigns. For the Indo-Pacific, this poses a real threat to political stability and public trust in democratic institutions. The more sobering concern, however, was the risks that face humanity if AI reaches human-like intelligence, or superintelligence (intelligence that surpasses that of humans). Designing and strengthening AI governance and regulation is not just a national concern but a priority for the Indo-Pacific region, and necessary to ensure we can enjoy the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks.
2. Hybrid Threats: Resilience is Key
Hybrid warfare, which includes non-traditional tactics like cyberattacks and economic interference, has become the new battleground. The hybrid warfare tactics used by both sides in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a focal point. But the lessons apply equally to the Indo-Pacific, where regional actors like China and North Korea could employ similar strategies if tensions ever escalate to conflict. Building resilience—both at the national and regional level—is essential. For Australia and its partners, this means investing in hardened and diversified digital infrastructure, psychological defence and social resilience, and cybersecurity.
3. Public-Private Partnerships Will Take Innovation to Implementation
Innovation, especially in sectors like energy, AI and quantum computing, hinge on strong public-private partnerships. The dialogue made it clear that governments and industries must collaborate to ensure technological innovation both aligns with national interests and is commercially viable. For Indo-Pacific nations, governments should encourage domestic innovation, explore diversified (and trusted) supply chains, and create financial support and procurement processes for startups and small-medium sized enterprises that is conducive to innovation.