Though seemingly unthinkable, the value of space exploration and the quality of Japanese tech were both once questioned.
So, how did we ever arrive at the point where the US dominates space and Japan is known as a futuristic figurehead?
PR changed everything.
Rather than just innovating, the Apollo Moon Landing was framed by the US as a symbol of freedom and democracy amid the backdrop of communist socialism, while Japan thrived in the 80s from products like the Sony Walkman and Handycam with a promise to improve and preserve life’s best moments.
Similarly, as the US and China battle to dominate AI, we need leaders yet again to shift perceptions.
But not necessarily to win a race as the US did with space exploration and Japan with consumer electronics, but to collectively instil trust in AI, which faces greater hurdles than any tech before it.
There's no denying that AI is as culturally significant as the dawn of the internet, and while it poses risks, it offers monumental progress that geopolitical tensions only halt.
For instance, Western media often fixates on the surveillance concerns raised by China’s relaxed AI governance. But what about the AI firms thriving in drug discovery that the nation will soon become a world leader in?
These companies could offer immense global benefits if short-term national interests and political tensions were set aside — and it's up to leaders to initiate this conversation, such as by explaining why pro-innovation regulation isn't inherently bad.
What's worse is a lack of transparency about how a relaxed approach to regulation might be safe or necessary for certain technologies to reach their potential.
Too many AI firms fixate on data processing speeds or language models when they should be communicating how their technologies improve everyday life.
This should be the focus for all AI firms and world leaders — not dominating competition.
While some may argue that relations between the East and West are too badly severed for improvement, companies like Huawei and Tencent demonstrate how Chinese tech firms can thrive globally by building cultural relevance, forging key partnerships, and rebuilding trust amid political controversy.
If Chinese AI firms took a similar approach to reshape their image and demonstrate value through innovation, they might just mirror the rise of Japan's tech sector during the 80s.
Of course, these ideas are purely hypothetical, as they would require cooperation from the US, which remains reluctant to engage given its security concerns.
Yet, I strongly believe that embracing collaboration, strategic communication, and regulatory nuance is essential to creating an ideal in which AI is no longer feared but viewed as a catalyst for global progress.