Geopolitics & Strategic Competition

AI has become a central arena of competition between nations, sitting alongside - and in many ways driving - broader rivalries in economics, military capability, and technological influence. Governments increasingly view AI leadership as a strategic imperative, not just an economic opportunity. This has real consequences for businesses: national AI strategies shape funding, regulation, and market access; semiconductor export controls determine who can build cutting-edge systems; and the tension between open and closed technology ecosystems affects how knowledge and tools flow across borders. The concentration of AI capability in a small number of companies and countries raises questions about power and dependency that go well beyond technology policy. If your supply chain depends on chips manufactured in a specific country, or your AI tools come from a provider subject to another government's jurisdiction, geopolitics isn't abstract - it's operational risk. Understanding the strategic landscape helps you anticipate disruptions, navigate compliance requirements across jurisdictions, and make informed decisions about technology partnerships and dependencies.