Brooke Tanner

Science fiction has long imagined machines that think, feel, or act like people. That imagery shapes our public conversations and understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Headlines frequently borrow science fiction tropes to describe AI systems as if they can “lie,” “scheme,” or “want” things. While that shorthand is vivid, it could imply a level of agency where none exists.

Editor's note: This backgroundbriefingguide was distributed to participants ahead ofthe Forum for Cooperation on AI dialogue on March 31, 2026.A short summaryof theconversation is included at the bottom of the piece.FCAI dialogues follow Chatham House rule, so remarks are anonymized. The global push toward artificial intelligence (AI) adoption reflected in many government plans and the February 2026 India AI Impact Summit highlight links between AI and economic growth.

Editor's note: This background briefing guide was distributed to participants ahead of the Forum for Cooperation on AI dialogue on Nov. 18, 2025. Energy consumption due to computing for artificial intelligence (AI) has become a high-profile issue with the rapid advancement of AI models and tools.