Europe faces sovereignty challenges in the age of artificial intelligence
At the Munich Security Conference 2026, one of the most discussed interventions was delivered by Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and now a leading voice in the global debate on technology and defense. His message was clear: 21st-century international security will be determined more by artificial intelligence than by traditional weapons.
According to Schmidt, AI is no longer merely an operational support tool but the core of future military operations. From intelligence gathering to strategic planning and autonomous systems, the decision-making speed enabled by algorithms risks radically transforming how conflicts begin and are fought. The result is a lower escalation threshold: crises that once unfolded over weeks could now develop within hours.
One of the most significant parts of his remarks concerned Europe. Schmidt warned that security can no longer be separated from technological capability: those who develop AI control military superiority, those who control data control the economy, and those who control platforms control geopolitical influence. For this reason, he urged European countries to build their own infrastructure and open models, reducing external technological dependence. This is not only about industrial competitiveness but about strategic sovereignty.
The core of his intervention was the concept of technological security. In the new global environment, he argued, states no longer compete only through armies and alliances, but through computing power, scientific talent, and access to data. Artificial intelligence thus becomes a component of deterrence — not only military power, but computational power.
The most delicate aspect concerns international stability. Automation, cyber operations, and autonomous systems could reduce human control during crises, increasing the risk of mistakes or unintended escalation between nuclear powers.
At the Munich conference in 2026, a new equation emerged: defense, economy, and technology are becoming the same thing.
From 13 to 15 February 2026, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) will once again bring together world leaders, policymakers, diplomats, experts, and representatives of civil society to discuss the most pressing challenges to international security.
On this occasion, Gianluca Costantini will follow the conference through a live illustrated reportage on social networks. Drawing in real time, Costantini will translate key moments, debates, and atmospheres of the MSC into images, offering a visual narrative that runs alongside the political discussion.
His live-drawing practice turns complex geopolitical themes into an immediate and accessible visual language, capturing not only statements and concepts, but also tensions, gestures, and the human dimension of global decision-making.
Through this illustrated live coverage, the Munich Security Conference will be observed from a unique perspective — where art, journalism, and international affairs intersect.
To contact the illustrator: email
Download high-resolution drawings: Link
The drawings of the Munich Security Conference 2025 | Gallery
