Pax Silica has arrived

"AI is the new electricity. Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I have a hard time thinking of an in...

"AI is the new electricity. Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years." - Andrew Ng, Co-founder of Google Brain and Coursera

Defining a new order

Pax Silica is the fresh moniker for a US-led coalition aiming to secure global technology and manufacturing. The term highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its core component, the silicon chip. It serves as a direct counter to the concept of Pax Sinica or a Chinese-led global order.

Countering 'coercive dependencies'

Supply tensions in 2025 highlight the risks of relying on single nations for critical inputs. China previously leveraged its monopoly on rare earth minerals during trade disputes. This new alliance focuses on building trustworthy systems for energy and supply chains to ensure the US and its allies cannot be pressured. 

A collection of our posts on AI geopolitics, here. Click to open

Uniting for tech dominance

Artificial intelligence is poised to reset the global economy and leadership dynamics. Coalition partners will collaborate on joint research and infrastructure to stay ahead. Their scope includes securing frontier models and semiconductors to counter massive investments and resource control by competitors in the field.

India not in, yet

India is not an official member yet but remains a vital partner. The US seeks to build resilient supply chains here to counter reliance on China. Key allies like Japan and Australia are already part of the initiative to coordinate with partners who want to remain competitive. Global investors continue to show significant interest in the future of AI within India. Major commitments from tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon prove this value proposition. Multinationals remain keen to integrate the country into their supply networks regardless of the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Summary

Pax Silica represents a strategic shift by the US and its allies to secure AI and hardware supply chains against Chinese dominance. While India is not a formal member, its role as a critical partner is growing, supported by heavy multinational investment and coordination on rare earth alternatives.

Food for thought

If global technology supply chains bifurcate completely between the US and China, can India successfully maintain its strategic autonomy while becoming a manufacturing hub for the West?

A collection of our posts on AI geopolitics, here. Click to open

AI concept to learn: Pax Silica

Pax Silica refers to a proposed new global order shaped by silicon, software, and artificial intelligence, much like Pax Romana or Pax Americana defined earlier eras. Power in Pax Silica flows not primarily from territory or armies, but from compute, data, chips, algorithms, and digital platforms. Nations, companies, and institutions that control semiconductor supply chains, cloud infrastructure, AI models, and digital standards gain outsized influence. Economic growth, military capability, governance, and even culture increasingly depend on technological dominance. Pax Silica is not inherently peaceful or stable—it is competitive, asymmetric, and fast-moving, demanding new rules for power, responsibility, and global cooperation.

[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. Various sources are used. All copyrights acknowledged. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]