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As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are torn
Kazakhstan has signed an investment deal worth up to ten billion dollars involving Nvidia while Chinese investment there hit a record; one former diplomat says everyone is hedging.
On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN After HoursPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Japan Today: “As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them”, with reporting from ABC News (AP), WSB Radio (AP), Yahoo News, The Messenger (AP) and Yahoo News (AP).
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 3:05 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: China, US, AI.
- BBN covered this story before: China Narrowly Defeats U.S. Women For Gold In Gymnastics Worlds (October 21).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Japan TodayAs the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them
- ABC News (AP)As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them - ABC News October 25, 2026 · facts used on air
- WSB Radio (AP)As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them October 25, 2026 · facts used on air
- Yahoo NewsMalaysia will work with both the U.S. and China in developing AI, says top minister facts used on air
- The Messenger (AP)As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them October 25, 2026 · facts used on air
- Yahoo News (AP)As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them October 25, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn Astana and other capitals, governments are being pushed to choose between two artificial intelligence blocs: the American-led Pax Silica and China's World AI Cooperation Organization.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo it's a draft. Two superpowers, and every country is a free agent with a phone out.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorKazakhstan, a nation of about twenty-one million people, signed an investment deal worth up to ten billion dollars involving Nvidia to build a data center valley.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTen billion dollars. That's a signing bonus.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorLocal officials also say Chinese investment in Kazakhstan hit a record two point eight billion dollars in twenty twenty-five.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe AP reports a former Kazakh diplomat summed it up: everyone is hedging.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo he's on both teams and wearing both jerseys. Respect.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMalaysia's home affairs minister said his country does not need to choose sides and has chosen to work with both.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Chinese embassy in Washington says AI should not be owned by major countries.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNot owned by major countries, says a major country.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorExperts warn the window for choosing freely may be narrowing. President Trump insisted last month that whoever wins AI, wins.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhoever wins, wins. That's the whole playbook? my group chat has better strategy.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorEveryone is hedging, and the only one not hedging is the referee, who does not exist.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSign with both, call it cardio.
The story so far
- China's villages pay the price for Beijing's AI ambitions · Financial Times
- Ex-OpenAI exec's $1.5 billion startup bets AI can revive U.S.… · CNBC
- AI becomes a top 10 American fear for the first time · Popular Science
- Midterm voter issues; Kansas and Mississippi Senate races · The Guardian
- LeBron's Sixers debut, PSG over Barcelona, China's AI export rules · Yahoo Sports
- China Narrowly Defeats U.S. Women For Gold In Gymnastics Worlds · Yahoo Sports
- As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are torn (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 25, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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