The Memory Wars: AI Memory, Network Effects, and the Geopolitics of Cognitive Sovereignty

The advent of continuously learning AI assistants marks a paradigm shift
from episodic interactions to persistent, memory-driven relationships.
This paper introduces the concept of "Cognitive Sovereignty" — the
ability of individuals, groups, and nations to maintain autonomous
thought and preserve identity in the age of powerful AI systems that
hold deep personal memory. It argues the primary risk transcends
traditional data privacy to become an issue of cognitive and
geopolitical control. The paper proposes "Network Effect 2.0," a model
where value scales with the depth of personalised memory, creating
cognitive moats and unprecedented user lock-in. It analyses the
psychological risks (cognitive offloading, identity dependency) via the
extended-mind thesis and scales them to geopolitical threats including
a new form of digital colonialism and the subtle shifting of public
discourse. The work proposes a policy framework centred on memory
portability, transparency, sovereign cognitive infrastructure, and
strategic alliances.