Dr. Michael Spencer

Abstract

The  US, China, and other developed countries are engaged in science and  technology (S&T) rivalries with artificial intelligence (AI) as a  primary catalyst. These growing technology rivalries are fast  approaching an all-out technology war between at least two of the two  nations and is the underlying cause behind recent trade conflicts  (Lynch, 2019). This is occurring due to China’s rapid technological  growth, its strategic economic ambitions, and the Communist Party of  China’s (CPC) Vision of Victory which calls on China to dominate  emerging technologies, especially the digital technologies: AI, quantum  computing, cloud computing, big data access, block chaining, internet of  things (IOT), etc.  Both the US and China’s senior leadership believe  AI and digital technologies will be “the engines of the next industrial  revolution” and have established national strategies and policies  devoted specifically to advancing these technologies and dominating  R&D and industry development. The US remains the current leader in  overall AI and digital technology research and product / service  development. However, China is committed to catching up, and has  recently surpassed the US in AI research volume, registered patents, and  publications. The prior Administration considered China’s economic  prowess, accelerating technological advancements, and growing emphasis  on digital technologies with leapfrog potential a major threat to the US  S&T and military hegemony and engaged in counterbalancing measures. These events and the complexity associated with AI’s commercial sector and military integration have created tensions and suspicions among each  nation’s senior leadership regarding their counterparts’ underlying  ambitions and motives. These leadership perceptions are promoting a  downward spiral of distrust and are contributing to a highly complex new  form of security dilemma with global implications.

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