Jacob Stokes, a former official in the Obama administration, recently released a report titled Superpowers and AGI, in which he warned that military action against China could be the most dangerous option and could easily lead to war. However, he also suggested that the U.S. should prepare for extreme measures, such as conventional bombings and preventive cyberattacks, if China is nearing the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI)—a hypothetical form of AI that could match or surpass human intelligence in all areas. Stokes urged the U.S. government to conduct planning exercises, including espionage and cyber operations, to disrupt China's progress in this critical technological domain. This comes amid a push by Chinese President Xi Jinping for international collaboration in AI development. At the opening of the World Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Shanghai, Xi positioned China as a leader in open-source AI and called on nations to prioritize collaboration and sharing over national security concerns. He also announced plans to support developing countries with AI training and to establish centers for global AI cooperation. This message was delivered just a day after China launched the WAICO initiative, a global AI governance project involving 29 countries, which is seen as a direct competitor to the U.S.-led "Pax Silica" initiative. In contrast, the United States has been increasingly focused on securing its lead in AI and has taken steps to limit China's technological advancement. These include strict export controls on high-end semiconductors, restrictions on cloud computing services, and aggressive military investments in AI-driven technologies such as autonomous drones. The Pentagon has also outlined contingency plans that could involve economic sanctions or even military action if China intervenes in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the U.S. has integrated the capabilities of major private AI firms into its classified military networks, aiming to create the world's first AI-enhanced military force. The U.S. has also emphasized its strategic goal of maintaining global dominance in AI through executive orders and significant military spending, including a historic $1 trillion budget. This focus on AI and military modernization comes at a time when funding for other critical areas, such as health and the environment, is being cut. Critics argue that this strategy risks escalating global tensions and could undermine efforts to use AI for the benefit of all humanity rather than as a tool of geopolitical competition.