Saudi Arabia recently celebrated the launch of what it describes as the world’s most advanced Arabic-language artificial intelligence (AI) model, named Humain-m3. The model is based on an open-source system developed by a Chinese startup called MiniMax. Despite this, Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in AI infrastructure, partnering with American technology giants like Nvidia to build its computing capabilities. This move highlights a broader trend where countries are adopting a hybrid approach, using American hardware and Chinese open-source models to develop their AI systems. This dual reliance on American and Chinese technologies is not unique to Saudi Arabia. Across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, countries are purchasing American semiconductors and other hardware while using open-source AI models from China. This strategy allows them to benefit from the strengths of both AI superpowers without fully aligning with either. For many nations, especially those in the Global South, the goal is to maintain technological independence by avoiding over-reliance on any single country or company. Brazil, for example, recently announced a $444 million investment in AI infrastructure, with roughly half of the funding going to a supercomputer built in partnership with Chinese firms Huawei and iFlytek. The remaining funds will support another supercomputer expected to use technology from U.S. company Nvidia. Brazil’s government emphasized that the goal is to ensure data sovereignty and reduce dependence on any single country or company. Similar strategies are being adopted by other nations, including Egypt and Malaysia, which are evaluating Chinese AI technologies for their own national projects. The choices countries make in AI development are also shaping their diplomatic relationships. While the U.S. has accused China of "free-riding" by using American AI models to train its own systems, China has rejected these claims and warned of potential retaliation. Meanwhile, the U.S. is trying to build alliances through initiatives like the U.S.-ASEAN AI Spark, which promotes the use of American AI technologies in Southeast Asia. However, some countries, like Malaysia and Egypt, are exploring alternatives that include Chinese technology. As the competition between the U.S. and China in AI intensifies, both nations are taking different approaches to influence other countries. While the U.S. is focusing on securing supply chains and forming exclusive partnerships, China is promoting open-source models and global cooperation through initiatives like WAICO. Experts suggest that rather than forcing countries to choose a side, China is likely to pursue a more diplomatic, norms-based strategy to gradually increase its influence in the AI sector. Meanwhile, countries like Singapore are navigating this complex landscape, maintaining ties with both the U.S. and China to preserve their strategic flexibility.