The US as ‘leader’ and China as ‘collaborator’: AI technology transfer and technological advancement in the global South

Abstract This article addresses the underexplored dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI) technology transfer by the United States/China to the global South, and the implications for the technological advancement of the latter. While previous research has examined general patterns of AI exchange and their geopolitical implications, few studies have provided a systematic comparative analysis of the modes of AI technology transfer and their concrete effects on recipient countries in the global South. This article addresses that gap by introducing a typology that distinguishes the US as exemplifying a ‘leader’ mode characterized by a high ‘systematicity of transfer’ and low ‘preparedness for localization’, and China as exemplifying a ‘collaborator’ mode characterized by a low ‘systematicity of transfer’ and high ‘preparedness for localization’. Building on this typology, the article analyses how these divergent transfer modes shape the global South's AI capabilities, development trajectories and AI regulatory frameworks. The US' ‘leader’ mode offers coherent and governance-oriented AI systems but risks creating vertical dependency and limited local absorption, whereas China's ‘collaborator’ mode facilitates cost-effective adoption and local capacity-building, but often lacks robust regulatory frameworks and comprehensive integration. This article provides a framework for future research on digital sovereignty and for the efforts of policy-makers in the global South to design AI strategies that balance developmental gains with long-term autonomy.