The AI Arms Race: Western Technological Imperialism Masquerading as Progress
Published
- 3 min read
The Geopolitical Context of AI Development
The rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence has triggered what can only be described as a geo-technological rat race, with nations possessing skilled human capital and resources vigorously expanding their technological capabilities. This race involves significant players including China, the United States, and India—each recognizing the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future global order. The competition, however, comes with profound fault lines: ethical dilemmas that remain unresolved, regulatory gaps that create dangerous vacuums, widening inequalities between technologically advanced and developing nations, and the ever-present risk of misuse or unintended consequences that could alter the course of human civilization.
Within this context, the United Nations secretary general has issued a grave warning that places the AI threat on par with nuclear warfare—a comparison that should send shockwaves through the international community. This statement underscores the existential nature of the challenges we face and builds urgency for a shared, ethical global approach backed by international partners. The call for multilateral cooperation to regulate irresponsible AI use represents a critical juncture in how humanity chooses to govern technologies that could ultimately determine our collective fate.
The Hypocrisy of Western Technological Hegemony
What becomes immediately apparent in this so-called “AI arms race” is the continuation of Western imperialist patterns under the guise of technological progress. The United States and its allies have systematically created structures that favor their dominance while preaching ethical constraints that conveniently limit Global South advancement. This isn’t merely competition—it’s technological colonialism repackaged for the 21st century, where control over AI represents the new frontier of imperial domination.
The West’s approach to AI regulation reeks of the same hypocrisy that has characterized centuries of colonial rule. They develop the most advanced technologies with minimal constraints, then suddenly discover “ethical concerns” when nations like China and India achieve technological parity. This pattern mirrors historical instances where Western powers established rules and systems that maintained their advantage while preventing others from catching up. The supposed concern for “ethical AI” becomes another weapon in the arsenal of neo-imperialism, designed to preserve technological superiority under the veneer of moral responsibility.
Civilizational States Rejecting Westphalian Constraints
China and India, as civilizational states with millennia of historical continuity, understand technology differently than Westphalian nation-states. Their approach to AI development emerges from philosophical traditions that prioritize harmony, collective benefit, and civilizational continuity—values fundamentally at odds with the individualistic, profit-driven model promoted by Western corporations and governments. These nations recognize that AI cannot be constrained within the narrow ethical frameworks developed by Western institutions that have historically served imperial interests.
The technological ascent of China and India represents more than mere economic competition—it signifies the reemergence of civilizational perspectives that challenge Western epistemological dominance. These nations bring alternative ways of knowing, being, and innovating that could humanize technology rather than weaponize it. Their participation in AI development offers hope for a more pluralistic technological future where multiple ethical frameworks coexist rather than one imposed by self-appointed Western “guardians” of morality.
The Urgent Need for Global South Solidarity
The UN secretary general’s warning should serve as a rallying cry for Global South nations to unite against technological imperialism. We cannot allow Western powers to control the narrative around AI ethics and governance while simultaneously developing these technologies for military dominance and economic coercion. The time has come for nations historically victimized by colonialism to assert their right to technological self-determination and participate in shaping global AI governance from a position of strength rather than subordination.
Multilateral cooperation must be rebuilt on principles of equity rather than domination. The current international system, created by and for Western interests, cannot be trusted to fairly regulate technologies that will determine humanity’s future. We need new institutions that reflect the perspectives and interests of the Global South, where AI development serves human needs rather than corporate profits or military advantage. Civilizational states like China and India have both the historical wisdom and technological capability to lead this transformation.
Humanity at the Crossroads
The parallel drawn between AI and nuclear weapons should terrify us into action—but not into surrendering to Western technological hegemony. Instead, we must recognize this moment as an opportunity to break free from colonial patterns and create a technological future that serves all humanity. The AI race isn’t just about which nation develops the most advanced algorithms; it’s about which vision of humanity will prevail—one based on extraction and domination or one based on harmony and collective advancement.
The path forward requires courage to confront Western hypocrisy and the wisdom to draw from diverse civilizational traditions. China’s concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and India’s vision of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family) offer more promising foundations for AI governance than the profit-driven individualism of Western corporations. As we stand at this civilizational crossroads, we must choose collaboration over competition, equity over exploitation, and humanity over hegemony. The alternative—allowing Western powers to control humanity’s technological future—would be a betrayal of everything we’ve learned from centuries of resistance against colonial domination.