Navigating Turbulence

Abstract This chapter examines the impact of the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China on the prospects for inclusive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) development. It argues that escalating techno-nationalist policies—particularly in areas such as export controls, investment restrictions, and supply chain decoupling—pose systemic risks to knowledge sharing and equitable participation in global innovation networks. The authors examine how political and regulatory turbulence undermines collaborative norms, disrupts academic and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and fuels discriminatory practices that marginalize foreign or underrepresented individuals or groups. Drawing on case studies and policy analyses, the chapter highlights how both countries have prioritized national security and technological dominance over inclusion, transparency, and trust. It concludes by urging a recalibration of AI governance strategies to accommodate pluralism and to safeguard inclusive innovation amid intensifying geopolitical tension.