The Global Battle for Tech Supremacy

History has shown us that cutting-edge technologies always bring out the best and the worst in global competition.  

But advances in artificial intelligence are taking these battles to another level in 2024 around issues ranging from the stock market to military preparedness. Never before has so much been at stake for international relations, the economy, your next job or even the future of life on planet earth.

Consider these positive AI headlines from the past week:

The Seattle Times — Nvidia surges as sales forecast delivers on AI hopes:
“Shares of Nvidia, the chipmaker at the center of an artificial intelligence boom, surged Thursday after a bullish sales forecast showed that AI computing spending remains strong. Second-quarter revenue will be about $28 billion, the company said Wednesday, topping the $26.8 billion predicted by analysts.”

Euronews.next — VivaTech 2024: How ready are companies and countries for an AI revolution?:
“Hundreds of speakers are giving their views on the upheaval caused by artificial intelligence (AI) at the Viva Technology fair in Paris. Tech experts told Euronews Next about how Europeans can ensure they aren’t being left behind.

“As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) progresses, the impact of this technology is more tangible than ever, but one of the main challenges will be to train enough people in the new skills required by the AI revolution, tech insiders told Euronews Next.

“‘We don’t see AI replacing humans but humans who use AI potentially replacing people who don’t,’ said Lisa Heneghan, KPMG’s Global Chief Digital Officer.”

And here’s a video from VivaTech 2024:

Crunchbase — Scale AI Raises $1B In Accel-Led Round; Hits $13.8B Valuation:
“The new Scale AI round is the second $1 billion raise for a U.S.-based AI startup this month, after CoreWeave raised a whopping $1.1 billion in a fresh funding round led by Coatue in a deal valuing the company at $19 billion, per The Wall Street Journal.”

CNBC video — French President Emmanuel Macron on AI, geopolitics and the economy
“CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with French President Emmanuel Macron for an exclusive interview on how to balance advances in AI with the workforce, rising geopolitical tensions and the economy.”

U.S. TALKS AI WITH CHINA

But also this past week, the U.S. held its first “AI dialog” with China. Here are some associated articles on those topics:

AP — In first AI dialogue, US cites ‘misuse’ of AI by China, Beijing protests Washington’s restrictions:
“U.S. officials raised concerns about China’s “misuse of AI” while Beijing’s representatives rebuked Washington over “restrictions and pressure” on artificial intelligence, the governments said separately Wednesday, a day after a meeting in Geneva on the technology.

“Summaries of the closed-door talks between high-level envoys, which covered AI’s risks and ways to manage it, hinted at the tension between Beijing and Washington over the rapidly advancing technology that has become another flashpoint in bilateral relations.

“China and the United States ‘exchanged perspectives on their respective approaches to AI safety and risk management’ in the ‘candid and constructive’ discussions a day earlier, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. Beijing said the two sides exchanged views ‘in-depth, professionally, and constructively.’”

Reuters — US Lawmakers seek $32 billion to keep American AI ahead of China:
“A bipartisan group of senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on Wednesday called on Congress to approve $32 billion in funding for artificial intelligence research to keep the U.S. ahead of China in the powerful technology.”

The Wall Street Journal — Microsoft Asks Hundreds of China-Based AI Staff to Consider Relocating Amid U.S.-China Tensions:
“Microsoft is asking hundreds of employees in its China-based cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence operations to consider transferring outside the country, as the American tech behemoth finds itself caught in the crosshairs of escalating U.S.-China tensions.

“Such staff, mostly engineers with Chinese nationality, were recently offered the opportunity to transfer to countries including the U.S., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, people familiar with the matter said. About 700 to 800 people were given the offer, the bulk of which are involved in machine learning and other cloud-computing tasks.”

MUSK WEIGHS IN ON AI — AGAIN

Meanwhile, Elon Musk was offering new warnings around the same AI technology via video to the same VivaTech conference in Paris.

Daily Mail (UK) — Elon Musk makes terrifying AI prediction and issues a chilling warning about how technology will harm children:
“Musk referenced the ‘Culture Book Series’ by Ian Banks, which is a utopian fictionalized look at a society run by advanced technology — which he says is the most realistic and ‘the best envisioning of a future AI.’

“He questioned whether humans would be fulfilled with a life without jobs and careers.

“‘The question will really be one of meaning — if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?’ he said. ‘I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this — in that we may give AI meaning.’

“Musk also issued a warning to parents about allowing their children to use technology.”

Last year, Elon Musk quoted Nell Watson, an AI expert and ethicist, who shared a detailed timeline that AI will become “smarter than any human being” by the end of 2025.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As we close out May 2024, there is an ongoing narrative around GenAI and AI that is very positive and even all-consuming for governments worldwide. Everyone seems to realize the need to “get to yes” on AI in the years ahead — or be viewed as irrelevant and left behind in government technology circles.

At the same time, there is plenty of fear, at a time when OpenAI announced they disbanded their team working on long-term AI risk.

Where this story will go in the long term is anyone’s guess, but for now, the tech community’s AI boat is full speed ahead — while hoping we can dodge icebergs as we spot them.