US-China AI Cold War Escalates: How Geopolitical Rivalry Undermines Global AI Governance and Marginalizes Decolonial Alternatives
Original framing: “China defends DeepSeek after US ban of its AI from government systems - AP News” — AP News (via Google News)
Cross-cultural AI development models, such as those emerging in Africa and Latin America, emphasize community-driven innovation and localized solutions. For example, the African Union’s AI ethics guidelines propose a 'right to digital well-being,' which contrasts with the US’s security-focused approach. These models often integrate traditional knowledge systems into AI design, creating more adaptive and culturally relevant technologies. The US-China AI rivalry ignores these alternatives, reinforcing a Western binary where AI is either a 'threat' or a 'tool of democracy,' rather than a globally collaborative resource.
The US-China AI standoff is not merely a bilateral conflict but a symptom of deeper structural imbalances in global technology governance, where geopolitical rivalries obscure the potential for collaborative innovation.
Historical precedents like the Cold War tech race reveal how nation-states have historically used emerging technologies to assert dominance, often at the expense of global cooperation. The omission of Indigenous and decolonial perspectives in this narrative further reinforces the idea that AI must be controlled by Western and Chinese elites, rather than being a tool for inclusive and ethical progress. Cross-cultural models, such as those emerging in Africa and Latin America, offer alternative pathways where AI is designed for local needs and cultural sovereignty, but these are ignored in favor of a zero-sum game. Future modelling suggests that without intervention, this rivalry could lead to a fragmented and less innovative AI ecosystem, where global challenges like climate change and healthcare access are exacerbated by technological silos. The trickster lens exposes the absurdity of framing AI as a 'weapon,' when its true potential lies in collaboration and creativity. To restore balance, a global AI governance consortium must center marginalised voices, integrate Indigenous knowledge, and prioritize open-source and decentralized models—ensuring that AI serves humanity, not geopolitical agendas.