New Zealand’s Strategy on AI: Three Fallacies
New Zealand's long-awaited AI strategy positions the country as a follower rather than a leader in artificial intelligence development.
First, by deliberately emphasising AI adoption over development, New Zealand surrenders the opportunity to create sovereign AI capabilities—while countries like Switzerland, Singapore, and Israel build their own systems reflecting their values and priorities.
Second, the strategy's reluctance to provide clear regulatory frameworks creates the very business uncertainty it aims to avoid. Businesses need clarity, not regulatory ambiguity.
Third, the strategy ignores the fundamental question of who will control the AI systems that increasingly govern our economy and decision-making.
The upcoming New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology offers a chance to demonstrate that commercial success and clear governance can work together—but only if we move beyond the false choice between regulation and innovation.
