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US to tell nations to pick sides in AI race with China: draft letter

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The US is preparing to inform numerous countries they must choose between aligning with Washington or Beijing on artificial intelligence development.
  • Countries that join China's competing AI framework will be excluded from the US-led Pax Silica initiative, according to a draft letter.
  • This move aims to limit China's access to resources in the race for advanced AI, which has significant economic and military implications.

The United States is preparing to issue a stark warning to dozens of countries: choose sides in the global artificial intelligence race, or be excluded from a US-led coalition. A draft letter, reviewed by Reuters, indicates that nations aligning with China's competing AI framework will be barred from Washington's Pax Silica initiative.

Launched last year, Pax Silica aims to secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors, and critical minerals amid intense technological rivalry with Beijing. Approximately two dozen countries have joined, including key mineral sources like Kazakhstan and US allies such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

To be part of everything is to be part of nothing. Signature of the Pax Silica Declaration is not merely a membership subscription, but a commitment.

— US State Department draft letterThe draft letter outlines the US expectation for countries joining its AI initiative.

The draft letter, from the State Department, targets signatories of a US "AI Opportunity Statement." By forcing countries to pick a side, the US hopes to hinder China's progress in developing sophisticated AI, which could be leveraged for military or economic dominance. China, under President Xi Jinping, launched its "World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization" in July, promoting its open-weight technology as a counter to US influence.

It cannot be held alongside membership in duplicative initiatives whose expectations conflict with our own.

— US State Department draft letterThe draft letter explains the exclusivity of the Pax Silica initiative.

Kazakhstan is the only nation currently known to be part of both initiatives, raising concerns in Washington. The draft letter emphasizes that "Signature of the Pax Silica Declaration is not merely a membership subscription, but a commitment." It urges countries to "choose deliberately" and states that membership cannot be held alongside "duplicative initiatives whose expectations conflict with our own," without explicitly naming China.

The State Department declined to comment on the "purportedly leaked internal documents." China's embassy in Washington stated that politicizing trade and technology issues hinders global AI advancements. The Kazakh embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

Such actions will only stifle global AI advances and serve no one’s interests.

— Chinese embassy spokespersonThe Chinese embassy in Washington commented on the US approach to AI development.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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