THE AI RACE: CAN WORLD POWERS AFFORD TO SLOW DOWN?
Region: Global
Author: Laszlo Enyedi • October 13, 2026
Not necessarily. And here is why: it can go against the physics of power.
The concern is that if the US starts seriously regulating AI, there is a chance it could fall behind China. Publicly calling for strict regulation would also mean acknowledging that the technology carries risks that cannot simply be dismissed.
The issue is a serious one. The Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, mentioned AI during his visit to Washington. However, in his speech at the UN on September 22, Trump stated that there was no need for widespread regulation of the technology. Mind you, Xi was in Washington on September 23–25, so he surely knew Trump’s position.
This suggests that the two superpowers have something like a new atom bomb in their hands. The comparison is imperfect, but the basic logic is similar: humanity has developed a technology that can be extremely damaging and also useful. Much depends on how we use it.
The fundamental difference is that an atom bomb cannot process information, make decisions or act autonomously, while AI systems increasingly can. This does not necessarily mean that AI thinks as a human does. But developing machines capable of performing tasks that previously required human intelligence makes this historical moment a pivotal one.
Calling for limits on the development and use of AI can therefore resemble calling for limits on the Manhattan Project during the Second World War. From the perspective of a world power, slowing down while a rival continues may seem more dangerous than pressing ahead; even if the technology could eventually harm its own maker.
AI is so revolutionary, and so new in human history, that it is hard to find a complete comparison. The nuclear analogy helps us understand the competition for power, but it cannot explain everything about a technology whose uses extend far beyond weapons.
Those in power may still have an interest in regulating AI to protect their societies and maintain control. The difficulty is that they also have an interest in developing it faster than their rivals. That is the central problem: the logic of power rewards speed, while the responsible development of AI may require caution.
So logic or speed will win?
What do you think?