The Rest Is Politics China vs USA: Who Will Win the AI Race?
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Jan 8, 2026 
Join Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former California Supreme Court justice, as he explores the complex dynamics of the AI race between China and the USA. He discusses who truly controls AI, suggesting it could be a new arms race. The conversation touches on the need for international cooperation, the influence of tech companies on policy, and how U.S. ambitions in AI are shaped by a mix of bipartisan logic and commercial interests. Dive into the realities of tech power and global strategy!
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Science And Cooperation Drove Progress
- Science and international cooperation drove major global gains in health and literacy since 1950.
- Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar warns AI poses similarly hard questions about equitable use and risk management.
AI As A Geopolitical Lever
- The US sees AI as a geopolitical lever to preserve advantage over rising powers like China.
- Matt Clifford argues export controls and company acceleration are tools to 'hoard' power.
Sharing AI Versus Holding Advantage
- Developers and companies often sincerely want to share AI benefits but also protect commercial advantage.
- Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar highlights tension between diffusion and corporate/geopolitical control.