Is There an AI Cold War?

Regulation is a means societies use to create the stability, public goods, and infrastructure they need thrive securely. This policy brief intended both document address claims of new AI cold war: binary competition between United States China that too important for other powers either ignore or truly participate in directly, beyond taking sides. We argue while some this narrative are based at least part on genuine security concerns unknowns, evidence its extreme nature lacking. absence factual concerning, because related geopolitical tensions may be used interfere with regulation agencies associated development. Here we first then analyze extremely bipolar picture prominent policymakers political commentators have been recently painting technological situation, portraying as only two global powers. examine plausibility these using measures: internationally registered patents market capitalization companies hold them. These measures, each somewhat arbitrary imperfect, often deployed context can therefore seen conservative choices should favor exactly “champions” narrative. In fact, measures do not produce results: Chinese capacity has exaggerated regions deprecated. findings call into question motivation behind documented claims, though also further illuminate uncertainty concerning digital technology security. recommend all parties engage contributing safe, secure, transparent regulatory landscape.