The Intelligence Rising 2024 Participants

Complex problems demand complex thinking. Wargaming embraces this by moving beyond single-track analysis and reintroducing the messy, human dynamics that shape real-world decision-making. Our perspectives are subjective, shaped by bias, experience, and uneven knowledge – but that diversity is exactly what makes collective problem-solving powerful.

That’s why Narrative Wargaming is built around diversity of thought, from the teams we compile to i3’s own make-up of creatives, academics, and designers. We bring together participants from different sectors, backgrounds, and areas of expertise, deliberately assembling groups whose perspectives complement – and challenge – one another.

Competition is part of the design. Rival teams may clash over strategy, allies may struggle with communication or competing priorities, and tensions can emerge even within teams themselves – between strategic, ethical, and technical viewpoints.

But alongside friction, wargames also reveal unexpected moments of alignment. Under real-world pressures, unlikely partnerships form and shared priorities emerge. In complex domains like AI, the line between competition and collaboration constantly shifts – shaping supply chains, international coordination, and the development of ethical and regulatory frameworks.

Our role is to create the conditions for those dynamics to play out by bringing together people whose perspectives illuminate the problem from every angle.

So, who played Intelligence Rising?

We began the design process by defining the core teams. These reflected the major powers shaping AI development at the time of play: the United States, China, and the European Union. As the host of the wargame, the UK took on the role of convener and was given its own team.

Alongside these state-level actors, we also created teams to represent perspectives complementary to strategic discussions. The team of Global Voices – SMEs from fields/ areas of expertise such as International Law, Philosophy, History, Education, Entrepreneurship, and many others brought in viewpoints from regions outside the major AI powers, while Technologists represented the academic and industry experts driving innovation within the tech sector.

Each team consisted of a ‘Principal’, a representative for ‘External Matters, ‘Internal Matters’, ‘Defence and Security Matters’, a ‘Chief of Staff’, a ‘Scribe’, and a ‘Recorder’. Floating technology advisors – those with expertise in AI’s developing capabilities – were on hand for the players to consult with, alongside other SMEs embedded within the ‘White Cell’. The White Cell – the design team behind the scenes – comprised of a Game Director, two Deputy Game Directors, a content team, an adjudication team, and an SME team working in concert to ensure the game’s smooth running and immersive feel.

The list below details just some of the credentials of our generous and wonderful participants. For more details, look them up on LinkedIn!