Could AI Decide The Next Global Power Shift? Here's Why Zuckerberg Warned Against China's Rise
News world Could AI Decide The Next Global Power Shift? Here's Why Zuckerberg Warned Against China's Rise Could AI Decide The Next Global Power Shift?
News world Could AI Decide The Next Global Power Shift? Here's Why Zuckerberg Warned Against China's Rise Could AI Decide The Next Global Power Shift? Here's Why Zuckerberg Warned Against China's Rise Published By, Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 21:36 IST Zuckerberg said China’s rapid progress in building the infrastructure needed to support AI was a particular concern for Washington. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (AFP file photo) Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has cautioned that the United States risks losing its edge to China in artificial intelligence (AI) unless it significantly accelerates the expansion of energy supplies and data-centre infrastructure. In a note, Zuckerberg argued that the countries leading the development and adoption of advanced AI could have a major influence on the global balance of power, with implications for democracy, economic growth and national security.
“Which nations lead the development and deployment of advanced AI will contribute to a new geopolitical balance of power that will determine the prevalence of democratic values, prosperity, and security in the future," he said. Should US Be Worried About China’s AI Boom? Zuckerberg said China’s rapid progress in building the infrastructure needed to support AI was a particular concern for Washington. While he noted that the US has an advantage in silicon design, he said it is lagging when it comes to expanding energy capacity and constructing the physical infrastructure required for AI. “Countries like China are bringing online 1GW+ of nuclear capacity every other week, so we will need to accelerate building both energy and data centers to remain competitive," he said. Zuckerberg backed continued US export controls on silicon, saying they have slowed foreign AI development during a crucial period.
He warned that AI advances are rapidly replicated, making sustained leadership difficult. ‘AI Is Likely The Most Competitive Industry In History’ “AI is likely the most competitive industry in history. Innovations are quickly copied and absorbed within months," he said, stressing that even a two-month lead could matter. He urged policies that speed up US AI infrastructure without delaying domestic model releases. “Any policy that slows American model releases — even by a month — could add significant risk to American leadership while letting foreign models race ahead," Zuckerberg said. He also called for closer government cooperation with leading AI firms on national security and urged the US to dominate open-source AI. “Our goal should be for American open source models to be the best globally," he said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.
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