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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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.
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.
Grindr Data as a Security Risk
- Grindr was owned by a Chinese company, possibly exposing users' personal data to Beijing.
- This exemplifies how data from Americans can be weaponized by China for influence or control.
