Nikola Tesla claimed his machine, the “Teleforce” (also known as the “peace ray” or “death ray”), would be his gift to humanity—a “machine that would end all wars” (Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 2017). A sci-fi trilogy showed the world what could happen if a “death ray” ever fell into the wrong hands. It would be galactic destruction. (Though some would argue the real destruction occurred when a cartoon mouse took over the narrative of the space saga.)
But I digress, as this cinematic fear mirrored a grim reality decades earlier. It was imperative that the U.S. beat the Nazis in WWII. This wasn’t a Marvel Age showcasing of a lab-grown super-soldier K.O.-ing the Führer; this was much more intricate, intellectual, and “sci-fi” than two superhumans battling it out with their fists for national pride. It was a battle of scientific minds on a global stage to create a weapon so powerful that those who wielded it could “end all wars, ”or terminate the existence of humanity. Nations raced to see who would be the first to harness such power. Nuclear power.
While the creation of such a destructive force was a major moral concern, the U.S. believed that if someone was going to wield a weapon of this caliber, it should not be the Nazis. That belief sparked the motivation for the U.S. to win the nuclear race through the development of the first atomic bomb in what became known as the Manhattan Project. This top-secret military project led the U.S. to create the weapon “to end all wars.” The U.S. won the race. Credits roll as the Manhattan Project comes to a close—but spoiler alert: there’s a post-credit scene. A new enemy arises.
Wars still go on, and nations race for weapons that are bigger, better, stronger, and more powerful. Perhaps “smarter” is the more accurate term, as Americans find themselves in a new race for a superior weapon. This time, however, America is not facing off against “ze Germanz.” In this sequel, the nemesis and technology are far more advanced. The United States now faces off with China in a battle for global dominance in Artificial Intelligence. Who will lead the world in AI? And has the world learned nothing from where this new path could lead, like when it was in the hands of an Austrian robot “Governator”? Apparently not, as America battles its way toward the finish line in what has become known as The Manhattan Project 2.0.
Why so serious? Should this AI battle lead to fear of global war? Isn’t this just a bunch of tech nerds battling it out over fancier computer performance bragging rights? Wouldn’t better tech, no matter where it was created, benefit the entire world? Should the U.S. be helping China instead of fighting and competing?
The answer to these questions is not just about who builds the tech, but what values will be programmed into the future of the digital world. Communist China does not share the same democratic values that much of the world holds dear. According to documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI):
The counterintelligence and economic espionage efforts emanating from the government of China and the Chinese Communist Party are a grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States. Confronting this threat is the FBI’s top counterintelligence priority (FBI, n.d., para. 1).
The Manhattan Project 2.0—the AI race—is, even by name, the sequel to the nuclear weapons race, and we’re living in it. Few of us were alive during the first installment, and though the world was a much different place then, the plot is the same: power is granted to the one who wields the weapon, and the audience is in suspense as to who will be the first to pull the sword from the stone. Another spoiler alert—it won’t be the British. No. This race is exclusively between the U.S. and China, and you must choose a side. You can either choose Winnie-the-Jinping-Pooh, or Agent-Orange. I chose the orange pill—not that my choice here matters. These superpowers already have their powerful allies.
Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, the U.K., Israel, and Australia are rallying behind America—the ‘chosen one’ in the defense against the “dark tech arts.” Together, they forge a digital iron curtain known as Pax Silica, ensuring democratic values are hardcoded into the world’s most advanced military hardware (U.S. Mission to ASEAN, 2025). Yet, the threat grows as Russia, Iran, and North Korea align with the China-led Global South to form the “Axis of Disruptors” (FP Analytics, 2025). Can Pax Silica defend against the deepening digital shadows of algorithmic bias, labor exploitation, and amplified authoritarianism? Time will tell—and perhaps the answer lies in 2026.
Armies are gathering, and tensions are peaking, but must this escalate into a battle? And must that battle become yet another global war? Who possesses the moral clarity to judge? Who can say with absolute certainty? Perhaps, before it is too late, an unlikely hero will emerge to cast this manipulative AI chip into the fiery depths of Mount St. Helens, destroying the potential for anyone to ever wield such soul-bending power. Stranger things have happened. Let’s just hope the ending to this multi-layered series doesn’t leave any loose ends.
References:
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). The China threat. https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/the-china-threat
FP Analytics. (2025, March 7). Competition and disruption in the age of AI. https://fpanalytics.foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/07/competition-disruption-artificial-intelligence/
Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (2017, July 10). Feature: Tesla’s superweapon – ‘The machine to end all war’. https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/feature-tesla-s-superweapon-%27the-machine-to-end-all-war%27U.S. Mission to ASEAN. (2025, December 11). Pax Silica initiative. https://asean.usmission.gov/pax-silica-initiative/
