Tech Diplomacy Now: AI and Energy
The development of artificial intelligence is deeply intertwined with the construction and availability of energy sources at affordable prices.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tech Diplomacy Updates
Top News of the Week
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
The Last Word
The Freedom 250 Moment
Freedom 250, the non-partisan organization leading the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence, began the year-long festivities with a six-night projection-mapping spectacle that transformed the Washington Monument into an immersive, luminous canvas telling the story of the Nation’s discovery, expansion, independence, and future. Freedom 250 CEO and our Chairman Keith Krach said, “This is a moment for all Americans.”
Watch his message and visit Freedom250.org to learn more.
Top News of the Week – AI and Energy
The development of artificial intelligence is deeply intertwined with the construction and availability of energy sources at affordable prices. These two sectors will continue to build on one another and a failure to bring additional energy sources online could derail the AI revolution.
Key points:
The construction of data centers and the availability of large-scale energy sources may limit to development of AI.
Increasing energy costs could lead to a political backlash against AI companies as consumers see their energy bills go up and believe that AI will take their jobs.
Technology breakthroughs or resource discoveries in the energy sector could reinvigorate the AI boom, just as the development of fracking drove down the cost of energy in the United States two decades ago.
More on Background:
If U.S.-China AI Rivalry Were Football, the Score Would Be 24-18 – WSJ, December 29, 2025
Americans Hate AI. Which Party Will Benefit? – Politico, December 28, 2025
The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly – NYTs, December 23, 2025
The U.S. Must Break China’s Chokehold on Our Economy – NYTs, December 22, 2025
AI Geoeconomics: Allied Electricity and Secure Data Centers – Baker Institute, December 18, 2025
Executive Order on Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence – The White House, December 11, 2025
$1.5 trillion lithium deposit found in U.S. supervolcano crater — site could supply batteries for decades – Tom’s Hardware, December 1, 2025
Latest News
China stages war games around Taiwan after hitting out at major US arms deal – CNN, December 30, 2025
4 ways China-US relations could fracture in 2026 – Politico, December 26, 2025
Ten former Samsung employees arrested for industrial espionage charges for giving China chipmaker 10nm tech — executives and researchers allegedly leaked DRAM technology to China-based CXMT, resulting in trillions of losses in Korean Won – Tom’s Hardware, December 23, 2025
Nvidia aims to begin H200 chip shipments to China by mid-February, sources say – Reuters, December 22, 2025
Meta tolerates rampant ad fraud from China to safeguard billions in revenue – Reuters, December 15, 2025
Technology Strategy and Policy
China mandates 50% domestic equipment rule for chipmakers, sources say – Reuters, December 30, 2025
U.S. Delays Chinese Chip Tariffs Until 2027 – The Information, December 23, 2025
Nvidia’s Biggest Southeast Asian Partner Dogged by China Chip Smuggling Questions – Bloomberg, December 22, 2025
Investigation Reveals Energy Department Collaborated with China’s Military on Research – U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP, December 17, 2025
Mapping Industrial Strength: US Machine Tool Production and Consumption – ITIF, December 15, 2025
Artificial Intelligence
Meta Buys AI Startup Manus for More Than $2 Billion – WSJ, December 30, 2025
China Is Worried AI Threatens Party Rule—and Is Trying to Tame It – WSJ, December 23, 2025
How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips – Reuters, December 17, 2025
Comments to International Trade Administration Regarding the American AI Exports Program – Center for Data Innovation, December 15, 2025
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
China blamed for UK government cyber-attack – FT, December 20, 2025
Winning the 6G Race – The White House, December 19, 2025
TikTok says Chinese owner will retain core US business – FT, December 19, 2025
TikTok Deal Done and It’s Somehow the Shittiest Possible Outcome, Making Everything Worse – Tech Dirt, December 19, 2025
Comments to Federal Communications Commission Regarding Eliminating Barriers to Wireless Deployments – ITIF, December 18, 2025
Critical Minerals
‘You can’t see China now as a reliable supply-chain partner’: Graphite mines forsaken for 70 years come back into fashion – Fortune, December 27, 2025
US Rare Earth Buyers Still See China Curbs Despite Trump Deal – Bloomberg, December 24, 2025
Analysing China’s 2025 Rare-Earth Export Controls – RSIS, December 23, 2025
The U.S. Must Break China’s Chokehold on Our Economy – NYTs, December 22, 2025
$1.5 trillion lithium deposit found in U.S. supervolcano crater — site could supply batteries for decades – Tom’s Hardware, December 1, 2025
Synthetic Biology
Ph.D.s Can’t Find Work as Boston’s Biotech Engine Sputters – WSJ, December 29, 2025
Synthetic biology, AI and automation: A forward-looking technology assessment – OECD, December 4, 2025
Quantum
How diamonds are powering a new quantum revolution – FT, December 28, 2025
From quantum talk to quantum delivery: Undersecretary Butti on implementing Italy’s strategy – Decode 39, December 22, 2025
Italy bets on quantum to secure tech sovereignty – Decode 39, December 18, 2025
Quantum navigation could solve the military’s GPS jamming problem – MIT Technology Review, December 16, 2025
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Chinese Navy Destroyer Tests Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile at Sea – USNI News, December 29, 2025
SpaceAI for Sustainability: Opportunities and Challenges for Southeast Asia – RSIS, December 22, 2025
U.S. Bans New China-Made Drones, Sparking Outrage Among Pilots – WSJ, December 22, 2025
China Satellite Obliterates Starlink Using a Dim 2-Watt Laser Fired from 36,000 KM in Space – Indian Defence Review, December 19, 2025
Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority – The White House, December 18, 2025
Why U.S. and Chinese satellites are ‘dogfighting’ in orbit – WaPo, December 18, 2025
America’s Drone Delusion: Why the Lessons of Ukraine Don’t Apply to a Conflict with China – Foreign Affairs, December 15, 2025
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
U.S. approves Samsung, SK Hynix chipmaking tool shipments to China for 2026 – CNBC, December 30, 2025
China’s SMIC to take full control of unit SMNC in $5.8 billion deal – Reuters, December 29, 2025
Some Japanese shops start rationing GPUs — graphics cards with 16GB VRAM and up are becoming harder to find, says one store – Tom’s Hardware, December 27, 2025
China’s AI Chip Deficit: Why Huawei Can’t Catch Nvidia and U.S. Export Controls Should Remain – CFR, December 15, 2025
Energy and Climate
The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly. – NYTs, December 23, 2025
AI Geoeconomics: Allied Electricity and Secure Data Centers – Baker Institute, December 18, 2025
China is building the world’s most powerful hydropower system deep in the Himalayas. It remains shrouded in secrecy – CNN, December 17, 2025
Opinion and Commentary
Trump Gives a Boost to China’s Biotech Companies – WSJ, December 31, 2025
China is using American AI against the U.S. Here’s how to stop it. – Jack Crovitz, WaPo, December 29, 2025
The year of the tariff: American trade policy is geared towards re-industrialisation — and it’s working – Ambassador Jamieson Greer, FT, December 22, 2025
The U.S. Can’t Get Xi Hooked on Nvidia Chips – Dmitri Alperovitch, WSJ, December 21, 2025
China Isn’t Racing the U.S. Toward the Same AI Future – Center for Humane Technology, December 18, 2025
Misunderstanding the British Industrial Revolution Is Reinforcing Technology Pessimism About AI – Robert Atkinson, In the Arena, December 18, 2025
Trump Is Doubling Down on His Disastrous A.I. Chip Policy – Ben Buchanan and Matt Pottinger, NYTs, December 17, 2025
The Last Word
“AI is a contributor to rising demand for electricity. The U.S. has got to get our act together and start growing our electricity production…So we do have a delicate balance. We have to build these data centers and supply energy and power to them, but stop the price rises.”
— Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.