By Fred Zhang
Publication Date: 2026-02-05 13:49:00
Warnings that China needs to be cut off from advanced AI chips reflect a familiar pattern. History shows that technology bans rarely slow China down – and often have the opposite effect.
New year, same threat from China, more tech-savvy.
The latest comes courtesy of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, as News Corp reports, warning that China’s access to AI chips must be banned before it’s too late.
Selling advanced AI chips to China is “like selling nuclear weapons to North Korea,” says Amodei.
You can almost hear the music swell, as if Dr. Fu Manchu just ordered the Death Star to target the White House.
According to the report, the only solution is chips.
According to Amodei, chips are “the biggest bottleneck” for powerful AI. Block them and the threat will subside. Don’t block them or we risk an “AI totalitarian state” and even military conquest.
On paper, the story hangs together neatly.
Chips are dangerous. China is dangerous. Therefore chips plus…