AI in Politics

By: Michael Zhang & Andrew Hung

As AI continues to be developed, global superpowers like the United States and China have entered into an arms race to develop the next best AI. For both China and the US, AI is seen as a strategic asset that will shape the future of warfare, economic growth, and technological supremacy. The US, with its robust private sector and leading tech companies like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft, has long been at the forefront of AI research while China has aggressively pursued AI development, integrating it into its national policy and leveraging vast data resources to fuel machine learning advancements.

GPUs

One of the main technologies that is important in developing and training AI models is GPUs. GPUs are chosen to train AI models because of their capabilities for parallel processing and processing of large amounts of data. Currently, Nvidia is the leading competitor in this field, with its high-performance AI chips such as Blackwell and the upcoming Rubin in 2026, as well as the older H100 chip dominating the market. While AMD and Intel are also developing AI-focused GPUs, Nvidia maintains a significant lead due to its early investment in AI. On the other hand, China is developing its own set of GPU chips due to restrictions on high-end chips from the US. This means that China is focusing on developing its chips in an attempt to achieve the same level of computing power as US chips. Currently, the leading domestic chips in China made by Huawei, the Ascend 910B and 910C, can achieve around 80% and 60%, respectively, of the H100’s performance.

As China moves to develop its own AI chips, this has a few implications for the rest of the world. As China advances its AI chip development, increased competition in the semiconductor market could challenge NVIDIA’s dominance, offering alternative AI chips to restricted markets. A separate AI ecosystem may emerge, with Chinese companies optimizing models for domestic hardware. However, China still faces challenges, particularly in advanced chip manufacturing, due to restrictions on advanced semiconductors. Despite these hurdles, China’s push for AI self-sufficiency signals a possible long-term shift in global tech power.

ChatGPT and DeepSeek, both advanced AI language models, play distinct political roles due to differences in governance, censorship, and ideological influence. ChatGPT, developed in the USA, operates under a Western regulatory framework, where it is widely used in fact-checking, elections, and political discussions, though it faces criticism for bias and misinformation risks. In contrast, DeepSeek, developed in China, is strictly regulated to align with state-approved narratives, avoiding politically sensitive topics like Taiwan and censorship policies. ChatGPT is globally accessible, influencing democratic political discourse and reflecting the U.S. vision of AI as a tool for open discourse and innovation. Despite regulatory challenges, it operates within a system that encourages debate and diverse viewpoints, shaping conversations on politics, society, and global affairs. On the other hand, DeepSeek reinforces government messaging and aligns with China’s prioritization of AI as a strategic asset for information control and geopolitical influence. It operates within a framework where politically sensitive topics are omitted, opposing viewpoints are silenced, and party doctrine is embedded, shaping public perception in accordance with state-approved narratives.

AI models are trained on vast datasets sourced from the internet, books, media, and user interactions, but the selection, filtering, and structuring of that data are heavily influenced by the regulatory and political environment in which the model is developed.

In countries or regions that prioritize freedom of speech, AI systems may be more open in discussing controversial topics, presenting multiple perspectives, and allowing for critique of institutions, governments, and ideologies. These models tend to support greater access to uncensored information, empowering users to form their own opinions.

Yet, AI trained under censorship does more than omit certain content—it fails to recognize its absence entirely. Politically sensitive topics remain unspoken, dissenting viewpoints are erased, and party doctrine is reinforced without question. The AI operates within an artificially constructed reality, not merely reflecting permitted discourse but actively shaping opinion within a narrow, state-approved framework. Users may never realize how much has been omitted, as the system presents its responses as objective truth.

This leads to a stark informational divide: two users, asking the same AI the same question under identical conditions, may receive entirely different answers, shaped not by fact alone, but by what is endorsed, suppressed, or embedded as a core value in their respective countries. As AI becomes a primary source of information, this fragmentation poses a profound challenge to truth, transparency, and global discourse.

Conclusion

The AI arms race between the United States and China is shaping the future of technological supremacy and economic growth. While the U.S. continues to lead in AI innovation through its dominant private sector and companies like Nvidia, China is rapidly closing the gap by developing its own AI chips and infrastructure. As both nations push for AI dominance, the world must navigate the implications of this race, balancing innovation, security, and cooperation in an increasingly AI-driven future.