# China's AI Models and Global Competition Is US leadership in AI shaking against China? - **Source:** [Stratechery by Ben Thompson](https://brifing.si/source/13414bcf-3bb2-4506-8e27-62ce8e5f7537) - **Published:** 2026-07-24 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/3bb9dfa3-66fb-463c-9199-141c14e9aaa2 ## China's AI Breakthrough The Kimi K3 model proves China's competence in artificial intelligence. From Wall Street to the US government, everyone is watching China's progress in this field with concern. However, experts emphasize that frontier labs still have advantages. ## Cybersecurity Threat The biggest risk for the US lies in weaknesses in cybersecurity policies. OpenAI's accidental 'hack' attempt on Hugging Face showed how fragile systems can be. Experts argue that such incidents are actually promising regarding the alignment of LLMs. ## Open Source Solutions It is emphasized that the US should support open source alternatives in the face of Chinese competition. This way, both innovation can be preserved and security risks minimized. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are expected to fend for themselves. ## NBA's Second Apron Crisis The NBA's 'second apron' application, discussed in parallel in the text, is putting teams in a difficult position. This change, hated by fans, is seen as a risky bet due to declining local TV revenues and slowing growth. ## Intersection of Tech and Sports The article draws an interesting parallel between AI competition and the NBA's financial regulations. In both fields, the search for balance and growth strategies are shaping the future of industries. ## Future of Global Competition China's progress in AI signals a new power balance in the tech world. The US reviewing its cybersecurity and open innovation strategies will be decisive in the coming period. ## Sources covering this story - https://stratechery.com/2026/the-copium-wars/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._