Alex Capri In Print - Articles
The Straits Times | The Nvidia H20 decision reveals three emerging dynamics in Washington’s evolving statecraft
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has become a key informal intermediary between Washington and Beijing, navigating the high-stakes tension over AI chip access and export controls. With Nvidia dominating over 80% of the global AI chip market, its technology is critical to both US and Chinese national priorities. Huang reportedly helped influence the Trump administration to ease restrictions on Nvidia’s H20 chip exports to China, despite geopolitical risks.
This case highlights a deeper trend: US mega tech firms are becoming central players in national security strategy, blurring lines between government policy and corporate interests.
As Nvidia evolves into a full-stack AI and cloud provider, it becomes both a strategic asset and a point of vulnerability. The H20 decision reflects the increasing weight of corporate lobbying in US foreign policy, and the growing bifurcation of global tech ecosystems along geopolitical lines.
DeepSeek - how a Chinese AI company just changed the rules of tech-geopolitics
In a move that could reshape the global AI race, Chinese startup DeepSeek has unveiled a powerful large language model (LLM) said to rival ChatGPT — and it may have done so without relying on high-end Nvidia chips. Instead, DeepSeek leveraged open-source AI and a cost-effective fine-tuning process to build its model, signalling a potential shift in the balance of technological power.
Beyond the technology, the implications are profound. DeepSeek’s success challenges long-held assumptions about the AI-semiconductor nexus and could weaken the strategic grip of US-led tech controls. As the world divides into three geopolitical tech blocs, DeepSeek’s emergence offers new pathways for middle-tier nations and threatens to upend existing power dynamics in the ongoing US–China chip war.
Read the full analysis to explore what DeepSeek means for AI, national security, and the future of global tech leadership.
Wall Street’s Love Affair With China Is Headed For Trouble
Despite rising geopolitical tensions, Wall Street firms continue to invest heavily in China, with nearly $78 billion poured in during 2020 alone. Major players like BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan are seizing new opportunities after China eased foreign ownership rules. However, this expansion comes with major risks. Beijing is asserting stronger state control over its markets, while Washington increases sanctions and compliance demands. The lack of transparency in China’s corporate landscape complicates due diligence and exposes firms to penalties. Critics warn that Wall Street may be funding authoritarianism, creating a growing conflict between profit motives and national security concerns.