AI World Order Should Move Past US-China Binary, Says Ex-MEA Tech Chief Golak Kumar Simili

The discussion around global AI leadership often defaults to a US-China contest, but Golok Kumar Simili's perspective points to a more complex, multi-polar reality. China's advancements in accessible and cost-efficient AI, particularly in industrial deployment and open-weight models, offer a distinct value proposition for developing economies across Asia. This contrasts with the US focus on frontier models and advanced semiconductors. For Asian markets, this diversification means more options for technology adoption and potentially less reliance on a single dominant ecosystem. The critical implication for the region is the emphasis on building resilient supply chains and fostering partnerships. India's DPI model is cited as a framework for inclusive digital systems, suggesting a path for other Asian nations to develop sovereign AI capabilities. The challenge lies in ensuring that this competition fosters innovation while cooperation prevents fragmentation that could exclude smaller economies from shaping future AI rules and technologies.