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Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Aspen Institute
Blog Posts
AI Geopolitics Beyond the US-China Rivalry
March 7, 2025
Aspen Digital
For much of the last decade, the race for AI dominance has been framed as a binary competition between the US and China. However, this narrative overlooks a crucial factor: the role of the Global South in shaping the future of AI. Emerging economies in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are not just passive recipients of AI technologies; they are actively influencing the direction of AI development, adoption, and governance.
Emerging economies in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are not just passive recipients of AI technologies; they are actively influencing the direction of AI development, adoption, and governance.
These nations are setting regulatory precedents, providing diverse datasets that enhance AI models, and determining the geopolitical balance of AI power through their technological alliances. Whilst China has expanded its AI footprint in these regions through investments and cost-effective AI solutions, the US and its allies have struggled to offer compelling alternatives. As these nations assert greater control over their AI futures, they are shifting AI geopolitics beyond a simple US-China rivalry, making them not just arenas of competition but key actors in defining the AI landscape.
