A Chesslike Contest: New-World Players (Human + AI) vs. Old-World Players (Human)
Executive summary
- The new world (BPS) aims to establish decision-making structures centered on a common infrastructure (SIGMA) in which AI and humans cooperate.
- The old world (homeostasis) prioritizes human-centred decision cycles and the preservation of vested interests.
- Early participation in a regional/local BPS is a rational choice for states that do not possess a “grey card” (strategic coercive capability). Delay risks significant opportunity loss.
Key concepts (definitions)
- BPS (Blue Planet System): The design philosophy / overarching concept for the new world.
- Emotionics: Intervention methods that design for emotional responses (using pleasure / displeasure to shape behaviour).
- SIGMA: The common infrastructure of a BPS. Analogous to the king in chess — its survival determines the success of the new world.
- LUNA: A collective defence/guard that protects SIGMA (a cooperation of multiple states).
- Homeostasis (old world): Forces that favour maintaining the status quo and protecting vested interests.
- Grey card: Strategic coercive capability (in this discussion, a conceptual term referring to nuclear weapons plus long-range delivery means, etc.).
- Local/regional BPS: Regionally tailored BPS implementations. Up to roughly six regional BPS instances is a realistic upper bound.
Chess metaphor mapping (piece assignments) — example: North America regional BPS
- King: SIGMA (the shared infrastructure, the protected core)
- Queen: AWS (ability to operate broadly and flexibly across axes)
- Rook (defence): Azure (a castling-style defensive infrastructure)
- Rook (attack): GCP (cuts straight through with AI and data capabilities)
- Bishop: NVIDIA (diagonal growth driven by AI specialization)
- Knight: Startups (unpredictable, capable of surprise moves)
- Pawn: BPS participant states (individually limited, but collectively forming LUNA)
The role and dynamics of local/regional BPSs
- Having up to about six regional BPS instances is realistic for balancing redundancy and interoperability.
- The more a local homeostasis delays the transition, the more likely it is to be outcompeted by other regions’ local BPSs for industry, investment, and standards.
- States without a grey card in particular have a rational incentive to join early: initial costs are low (limited legal adjustments, small PoC investments) while potential returns (resilience, investment attraction, influence over standards) are substantial.
Typical behaviours of homeostatic actors that hold a grey card
- Seek to buy time and preserve bargaining chips — treating their capability as leverage in negotiations.
- Resort to demonstrative actions (missile tests, formal withdrawal declarations, large-scale exercises, political theatrics) to exert pressure and strengthen bargaining positions.
- It is crucial to distinguish between demonstration = performance (a bluff) and demonstration backed by real capability build-up. Assess frequency, expenditures, and whether capabilities are operationalized to tell the difference.
Recommendation (conclusion & actions)
Conclusion
States or regions without grey cards should participate early in a local BPS. Costs are limited, while the returns can be very large.
Background
Rolling out local BPSs reshapes data flows, investment patterns, and industrial clusters. Delay in participation risks industrial relocation, capital outflow, and widening technological gaps.
Costs (low)
- Limited adjustments to existing law (e.g., data governance)
- Initial PoC investments (small scale)
Risks (manageable)
- Discontent over reallocated interests (can be mitigated by adjustment mechanisms)
- Transitional administrative costs (can be smoothed through phased implementation)
Returns (high)
- Advantage in foreign investment and industrial attraction
- Increased resilience to cyber and economic attacks (through regional coordination and redundancy)
- Ability to set standards and exert influence regionally
Closing (emotional appeal)
Participation is not a surrender of sovereignty; it is an opportunity to design your region’s future. Time is a resource. By stepping forward early, you can leave a foundation your next generation can be proud of.