As the first in-person meeting of the Quad brought together leaders of the Indo-pacific on 24th September in Washington D.C., what we also witnessed was a convergence of artificial intelligence and international relations. Emerging technologies featured as a prominent part of the Quad’s narrative during the US-India-Japan-Australia summit, besides the COVID pandemic and climate crisis as other key agendas. As per the 'Spirit of the Quad', the countries will "begin cooperation on the critical technologies of the future to ensure that innovation is consistent with a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific."

• Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group: Since its establishment after the March 2021 virtual meeting, this working group has remained the main mechanism for technology cooperation in the Quad.
• Quad Principles on Technology Design, Development, Governance, and Use: This Statement of Principles is a collaborative effort to affirm that any technological progress in the Quad countries be shaped by their shared democratic values and respect for universal human rights. Technology should make the lives of their citizens more secure, prosperous and rewarding, addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges, like equitable growth, climate change, energy security, and pandemic diseases. Read the official principles document here.
• Contact group on Artificial Intelligence: The Quad will establish a contact group on Artificial Intelligence focusing on standards-development activities as well as foundational pre-standardisation research.
• Quad Tech Network: As part of the QTN initiative, research institutions in Australia (the National Security College at The Australian National University), India (the Observer Research Foundation), Japan (the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies) and the United States (Centre for a New American Security) have commissioned papers on key issues facing the region. These papers offer analysis and recommendations on shared challenges facing Australia and Indo-Pacific partners in the cyber and technology environment.
• Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative: Quad partners will launch a joint initiative to map capacity, identify vulnerabilities, and bolster supply-chain security for semiconductors and their vital components. This initiative will help ensure Quad partners support a diverse and competitive market that produces the secure critical technologies essential for AI economies globally.

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