Companies initially struck a "Capability now, control later" bargain with generative AI, feeding proprietary data into third-party models. Now that AI is established in business operations and sophisticated autonomous systems advance daily, enterprises reconsider this deal. EDB CEO Kevin Dallas warns companies risk losing intellectual property and competitive advantage when cloud-based large language models process their sensitive data.

The movement toward AI and data sovereignty—breaking dependence on centralized providers—is gaining momentum. According to EDB research, 70% of global executives believe they need sovereign data and AI platforms to succeed. This shift extends beyond corporate walls into global policy, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang advocating countries build their own AI infrastructure to leverage language and cultural resources.

Companies are already pursuing sovereignty over models and data estates, as confirmed by EDB's survey of 2,050 executives and expert interviews. The sovereignty movement focuses on genuine control over AI systems that constitute core business infrastructure. Enterprises recognize data as their new currency and are taking concrete steps to protect their valuable intellectual assets in the AI era.