China and the US are racing ahead on AI. Can they manage risks together?

The call for US-China AI cooperation, while well-intentioned, overlooks the fundamental geopolitical reality. Beijing prioritizes national security and technological self-sufficiency above all else. Any joint framework would demand a level of transparency and trust that simply does not exist between the two nations today. The "technocene" Blanchette describes is more likely to be defined by competition than collaboration.

For Asia, this means a continued bifurcation of AI development and standards. Countries like Singapore and South Korea will face increasing pressure to choose between US and Chinese technological ecosystems. This split will complicate cross-border data flows and AI model interoperability. Asian companies should prepare for diverging regulatory landscapes rather than a unified global approach.

The test for any real collaboration is a concrete, verifiable agreement on export controls for advanced AI chips. Without a shared understanding on what constitutes a dual-use technology, talks remain largely symbolic. Watch for any movement on specific hardware restrictions, which would signal a genuine shift in US or Chinese policy.