Nations hedge bets in US-China AI rivalry

A growing number of countries outside the US and China are choosing not to align exclusively with either superpower in the race for AI dominance. Instead, governments in regions like Latin America and Southeast Asia are striking deals with both American and Chinese AI companies, seeking chips, cloud infrastructure, and investment from each side.

This strategy allows these nations to access competitive technology and funding while avoiding full dependence on one geopolitical bloc. It reflects a broader trend of countries treating AI infrastructure as a resource to diversify, similar to energy or telecom investments, rather than a binary alliance choice.

The approach has implications for how US and Chinese AI firms compete for global market share and influence in emerging economies.