The AI Arms Race: US vs. China and the Battle for Global Influence

How two superpowers are fighting to control the future of artificial intelligence—and what it means for the rest of us.

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological marvel; it’s a geopolitical weapon. In The Big Nine, Amy Webb shines a spotlight on the escalating contest between the United States and China for AI supremacy. The US, with its G-MAFIA tech giants, relies on private innovation and market-driven advances. China, meanwhile, executes a sweeping national plan: AI education starts in elementary schools, state funding flows into research, and data is treated as a national asset.



Webb explains that this rivalry is about more than just gadgets and apps. It’s a battle over who sets the rules for privacy, ethics, and the flow of information. Military AI, predictive policing, and surveillance technologies are already shaping the security strategies of both nations. The winner may determine global standards for decades to come.

This arms race could result in a divided world, with incompatible digital infrastructures and clashing values. Yet, Webb also highlights the potential for collaboration, especially in areas like climate modeling and pandemic response. The future, she argues, will be shaped by the choices made in Washington and Beijing—but the rest of the world must also have a voice.



As the AI arms race heats up, Webb’s message is clear: the stakes are nothing less than the future of global order, human rights, and the everyday lives of billions. Understanding this contest is essential for anyone who wants to shape, rather than be shaped by, the next era of technology.