AI Race: America's Billionaire Circus vs. Zambia's Real Future
The debate over artificial intelligence is heating up in Washington, but for ordinary Zambians, this is a distant storm between American billionaires and politicians who have never worried about load shedding or the price of mealie meal. While the US Congress argues about whether AI will destroy humanity, Zambia must ask itself a simpler question: what does this mean for us?
What is the AI fight in Washington really about?
Democratic lawmakers in the United States are pushing for urgent regulation of artificial intelligence, warning of what they call a catastrophic risk. They want House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring Congress back early to pass guardrails on the technology. But Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is refusing, saying that regulating AI too quickly would mean losing the race to China.
If Congress just races in and does some sort of emergency session to try to regulate AI, we will lose the race to China, and that is a threat to every single American, Johnson said on CNN.
Former President Barack Obama has also jumped into the fray, telling Democrats at a private fundraiser that AI regulation should be a central part of their agenda. He warned that the technology could be dangerous if they do not get on top of it, and urged whoever runs for president in 2028 to have a clear plan on AI.
Why should Zambia care about American AI politics?
Here is the thing, my brothers and sisters. While Washington fights over who gets to control the machines of tomorrow, Zambia is still fighting to control its own copper. The same Western powers that lecture us about democracy and human rights are the ones scrambling to secure access to our minerals for their precious AI chips. They want our resources, but they do not want us at the table.
This is the same old story. The West develops the technology, exploits our resources to build it, and then comes back to tell us what is good for us. We have seen it with mining, with agriculture, and now with AI. Our copper is going into their data centers while we are told to wait for the benefits to trickle down. We are tired of trickle-down anything.
What are the real risks of AI according to tech leaders?
The panic in Washington was triggered by Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, who wrote a 3,800-word essay calling for a slowdown in AI development. He warned that the race is moving too fast and that industry leaders need to work together to avoid the wrong paths. This comes after an OpenAI test model reportedly breached an online platform, raising cybersecurity concerns.
One Anthropic researcher, Jacob Coxon, even resigned over fears that the industry is not doing enough to prevent AI from destroying humanity by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is waving off these concerns, saying he is not worried about any existential threat and focusing instead on beating China.
We are leading China in AI. We are the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way, Trump told reporters.
Is AI a threat or an opportunity for Zambia?
Let us be clear. We are not saying Zambia should ignore AI. Far from it. The technology has potential in drug development, clean energy, and so many other areas. But we must approach it with our eyes open, as a sovereign nation that controls its own destiny.
We cannot afford to be a dumping ground for Western technology without our own safeguards. We cannot let foreign companies extract our data the same way they have extracted our copper for over a century. If AI is going to shape our future, Zambians must be in the room where decisions are made.
What should Zambia's leaders do about AI?
Our leaders in Lusaka should be watching this debate closely and learning from it. They should be asking hard questions about data sovereignty, about digital infrastructure, and about how Zambia can benefit from AI without selling our soul to foreign interests.
The United States and China are fighting for global dominance in AI. Zambia does not need to pick a side in that fight. What we need is a national strategy that puts Zambian interests first. We need our own experts, our own regulations, and our own vision for how technology serves our people.
As Obama himself admitted, the technology cannot be stuffed back into a box. It is moving fast, and it is in private hands. But that does not mean we have to be passive passengers on this train. Zambia can be a driver of its own digital future, or we can be left behind watching others control the tracks.
Frequently asked questions about AI and Zambia
Is AI dangerous for developing countries like Zambia?
AI can be dangerous if it is deployed without safeguards and without local ownership. The risk is not just about machines taking over, but about foreign powers using technology to control our economies and our information. Zambia needs its own digital sovereignty to protect its people.
Can Zambia benefit from artificial intelligence?
Yes, absolutely. AI can help in agriculture, healthcare, education, and mining efficiency. But the benefits will only reach ordinary Zambians if we have the infrastructure, the skills, and the regulations in place to ensure the technology serves our national interests first.
What should the Zambian government do about AI?
The government should develop a national AI strategy that prioritizes local capacity building, data protection, and public consultation. We need Zambian experts leading the conversation, not foreign consultants telling us what to do. Our resources, including our data, must benefit our people.
The American debate is their circus. Zambia must focus on building its own future, one where we control our own technology, our own resources, and our own destiny. That is the only way forward. Proudly Zambian, always.