AI Empires Are Rising—and Most of the World Is Locked Out
AI Empires Are Rising—and Most of the World Is Locked Out
The next Cold War won’t be fought with missiles, it’ll be fought with GPUs, and over 150 countries have already lost without even knowing they were at war.
A new global fault line is forming, not between ideologies or economies, but between countries with AI compute power and those without. While OpenAI’s Texas mega-facility flexes billions in investment and its own gas plant, other countries scrape by with outdated chips.
The U.S. and China now operate 90% of the world’s advanced AI data centers. Everyone else, from Brazil to Kenya, rents access, if they can afford it.
This isn’t just about cloud storage. AI trained in dominant languages like English and Chinese is reshaping science, warfare, and economic policy. Nations without sovereign compute are finding their top talent lured abroad, their regulations bypassed, and their futures dictated by foreign cloud giants.
Oxford’s data shows the divide isn’t closing, despite efforts from Brazil, India, the EU, and Africa’s Cassava initiative:
- 32 nations hold nearly all AI data centers
- U.S. and China dominate chip supply and influence
- Africa’s upcoming Cassava hub may meet just 20% of demand
We often talk about digital transformation, but what happens when the very infrastructure of transformation is inaccessible? As compute becomes the new oil platforms (after all, data is already the new oil), will we invest in sovereign digital infrastructure, or watch the foundations of our autonomy be leased out byte by byte?
Are we ready to confront the geopolitical consequences of outsourced intelligence?
Read the full article on New York Times.
----
Frequently asked questions
Which countries dominate global AI compute power?
The United States and China operate 90% of the world's advanced AI data centers, giving them dominant control over AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, only 32 nations hold nearly all AI data centers globally, leaving over 150 countries without meaningful access to the compute power needed to develop and run advanced AI systems independently.
Link to this questionWhy does AI compute divide matter for other nations?
AI trained in dominant languages like English and Chinese is reshaping science, warfare, and economic policy. Nations lacking sovereign compute face top talent being lured abroad, their regulations bypassed, and their futures effectively dictated by foreign cloud giants, meaning their autonomy and development get shaped by decisions made elsewhere.
Link to this questionWhat is Africa doing to address the AI compute gap?
Africa has launched the Cassava initiative to build AI compute infrastructure on the continent. However, this upcoming Cassava hub may only meet about 20% of demand, showing that even dedicated regional efforts are struggling to close the widening gap between compute-rich and compute-poor nations.
Link to this questionAre efforts to close the AI compute divide working?
Despite initiatives from Brazil, India, the EU, and Africa's Cassava project, data from Oxford shows the divide between AI compute haves and have-nots isn't closing. The concentration of advanced data centers in just 32 nations, dominated by the U.S. and China, continues largely unchanged despite these efforts.
Link to this question💡 We're entering a world where intelligence is synthetic, reality is augmented, and the rules are being rewritten in front of our eyes.
Staying up-to-date in a fast-changing world is vital. That is why I have launched Futurwise; a personalized AI platform that transforms information chaos into strategic clarity. With one click, users can bookmark and summarize any article, report, or video in seconds, tailored to their tone, interests, and language. Visit Futurwise.com to get started for free!
Dr Mark van Rijmenam
Dr. Mark van Rijmenam, widely known as The Digital Speaker, isn’t just a #1-ranked global futurist; he’s an Architect of Tomorrow who fuses visionary ideas with real-world ROI. As a global keynote speaker, Global Speaking Fellow, recognized Global Guru Futurist, and 5-time author, he ignites Fortune 500 leaders and governments worldwide to harness emerging tech for tangible growth.
Recognized by Salesforce as one of 16 must-know AI influencers , Dr. Mark brings a balanced, optimistic-dystopian edge to his insights—pushing boundaries without losing sight of ethical innovation. From pioneering the use of a digital twin to spearheading his next-gen media platform Futurwise, he doesn’t just talk about AI and the future—he lives it, inspiring audiences to take bold action. You can reach his digital twin via WhatsApp at: +1 (830) 463-6967.
