Collection

The AI Race

Governments are pouring trillions of dollars into AI, chip wars are reshaping global alliances, and Chinese engineers are skipping Silicon Valley to build at home. From Saudi supercomputers to African AI labs, the scramble for influence in next tech frontier is already underway.

A digitally altered notice from the South African Department of Communications regarding a draft national AI policy.

Innovation 7 May 2026

Five times AI hallucinations embarrassed governments

From the Trump administration’s “formatting errors” to South Africa’s historic policy withdrawal, AI confabulation is infiltrating official documents.

By Ananya Bhattacharya

A group of protesters holding signs, with a prominent blue banner reading "STOP THE AI RACE" in the foreground.

Global Dispatch 24 April 2026

AI optimism surges in Asia, unlike in the U.S.

New research shows Americans are far less excited about AI — and far less trusting of regulators — than their counterparts across Asia.

By Rina Chandran

A stylized image featuring a man with a beard and suit next to a large, textured letter "N" against a blue background.

Innovation 20 April 2026

Netflix’s AI deal puts the global VFX workforce at risk

A startup founded by Ben Affleck, recently acquired by Netflix, could automate the frame-by-frame work done by artists across India, South Korea, and Latin America.

By Indranil Ghosh

A pile of old, discarded televisions surrounded by garbage near a brick wall.

Global Dispatch 17 April 2026

AI is about to make the global e-waste crisis much worse

As demand for AI hardware surges, much of the resulting waste will end up in non-Western countries.

By Ananya Bhattacharya

Innovation 16 April 2026

The Mexican security company with a $1.27 billion surveillance empire

Founded as a home alarm business in 1995, Grupo Seguritech now operates 188 command centers across Mexico and has at least 31 subsidiaries. Now it's coming to the U.S.

By Rest of World

A person stands among tall grass in a field, with digital overlay of data center buildings in the background.

Tech Giants 13 April 2026

In its push to become Big Tech’s data center hub, India is overlooking local resistance

Google and Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar projects under construction in India are facing backlash from farmers, while the government offers huge tax relief to foreign companies setting up data centers.

By Ananya Bhattacharya

Global Dispatch 10 April 2026

Chinese entrepreneurs should go global before they go viral

The Meta-Manus deal holds lessons for U.S. investors and Chinese founders alike.

A collage of four brain illustrations, each with a different colored background: blue and pink.

Global Dispatch 3 April 2026

Will we regret the overuse of AI?

Much of the AI conversation has focused on what it can do. Now it’s time to ask what it might quietly take away.

By Itika Sharma Punit

A graphic showing an elevator with people inside, surrounded by colorful, flowing lights and falling coins against a city skyline.

Innovation 1 April 2026

“This is unprecedented”: America’s AI boom is leaving the rest of the world behind

Tech leaders called AI a democratizing force. But it’s concentrating power and wealth in a handful of American companies.

By Issie Lapowsky

A faceless figure in a suit stands with arms crossed, surrounded by symbols of technology and communication.

Global Dispatch 27 March 2026

In China, AI is forcing a rethink on jobs, education, and creativity

We’ve moved beyond a simple job market shift.

A surreal cityscape featuring hands throwing dice over a skyline shrouded in fog during sunset.

Ideas 23 March 2026

The Gulf was Silicon Valley’s bet on the future. Trump has put it in the crosshairs

The same choke points that made the Gulf the world’s energy crossroads now threaten its role as the nerve center of the AI age.

A surveillance camera positioned near a globe highlighting Africa, set against a red background.

China Outside China 20 March 2026

Africa pours $2 billion into controversial Chinese surveillance tech

A new study shows Chinese firms and banks are behind much of the continent’s AI-powered monitoring infrastructure.

By Ananya Bhattacharya