Politicology

AI Cold War—The Weekly

Jul 4, 2025
Isaac Stone Fish, CEO of Strategy Risks and a fellow at the Atlantic Council, dives into the escalating AI race with China and the associated risks of authoritarian values shaping our future. He highlights China's ambitious strategies in the tech space and the implications for global governance. The discussion also addresses the U.S.-China tensions and how China's actions could threaten net neutrality and free speech. With insights on the ethical dilemmas in foreign policy, Fish unveils the complexities of navigating international relations in a tech-driven world.
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INSIGHT

Naive Assumptions on China Trade

  • The U.S. initially engaged China hoping trade and business would liberalize its governance.
  • This assumption was naive; China prioritized its own interests and authoritarian control instead.
INSIGHT

Why Winning the AI Race with China is a Matter of Global Control and Security

Isaac Stone Fish outlines a critical perspective on the AI race with China, emphasizing that Beijing's ambition is not just technological leadership but also shaping AI to reflect authoritarian values and maintain control. Chinese AI development is deeply influenced by censorship and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) desire to control narratives both domestically and globally, posing risks of weaponization in geopolitical conflict. Unlike fears of rogue AI, the real concern is how China might use AI for state surveillance, social profiling, and influence operations globally, including accessing critical data through companies like Grindr. This competition impacts national security, privacy, and the future nature of AI governance, making the race existential beyond mere economic or technological progress.

INSIGHT

Governance Over AI Threats

  • The real AI threat is governance weaponizing AI in conflict, not sci-fi fears of AI dominance.
  • AI will be a potent tool and weapon in future global conflicts, including a likely World War III.
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