While Washington continues investing billions of dollars to maintain its technological lead, particularly in the field of AI, China's rapid progress in developing affordable, capable models is making it increasingly difficult for the U.S. to convince allies and emerging economies to invest in American technology, according to a new report.
Axios detailed that the competition is no longer simply about which country develops the most advanced AI model. Instead, experts say the battle is increasingly centered on accessibility, affordability, and global adoption.
Chinese AI companies do not necessarily need to outperform industry leaders such as OpenAI or Anthropic to reshape the global AI landscape. If their models are widely available, inexpensive, and easy to deploy, they could become the preferred choice for governments and businesses worldwide.
The U.S. government is seeking to strengthen an international coalition built around American artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology. Earlier this week, the State Department expanded its Pax Silica initiative, an effort designed to establish a U.S.-led AI and chip supply chain while reducing reliance on Chinese technology.
Among the biggest concerns is what analysts describe as an inconsistent export control policy. Recent restrictions on Anthropic and OpenAI's latest AI models have created uncertainty throughout the industry, leaving companies unsure about future access to advanced AI technologies.
Daniel Remler, a former technology adviser at the State Department who now works at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said the uncertainty has slowed momentum across the sector."Following the Anthropic decision, the entire industry is kind of frozen in place, waiting for something that seems kind of more coherent," Remler said during a CNAS panel discussion and cited by Axios.
China, on its end, is moving aggressively to expand its AI footprint worldwide. Beijing has also focused on distributing open-source AI models internationally while deploying artificial intelligence across domestic industries such as manufacturing and healthcare.
Some experts also believe a growing emphasis on AI sovereignty could work to China's advantage. Saif Khan, who previously served as counselor for critical and emerging technologies at the Commerce Department, said many governments increasingly want greater control over their own AI infrastructure.
"As you're seeing many more calls now for AI sovereignty, I think it will mean that much of the rest of the world will likely, at least on the margin, prefer Chinese open-weight models" over U.S. frontier models, Khan said.
The Trump administration is attempting to counter that trend through diplomacy. During this week's Pax Silica event, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg announced that 35 countries had signed the "Declaration on AI Opportunity," signaling support for greater cooperation around American AI technology.
Helberg also criticized the growing movement toward digital sovereignty, calling it "backward and counterproductive" and "synchronized mediocrity." Even so, many U.S. partners appear to be pursuing a more balanced approach.
The European Union has continued emphasizing the importance of digital sovereignty following the Anthropic export restrictions, while countries such as the United Arab Emirates are seeking technological independence without abandoning cooperation with Washington.
