AI and the New Trade Wars

The AI revolution and the new trade wars are the same story—and almost no one is connecting them.

Two headlines dominate the decade: the breathtaking rise of artificial intelligence, and the slow fracturing of the global economy into rival technology blocs. Most people read them as separate events. They are not. The chips that train AI models, the export controls that govern who can buy them, the rare earths that go into them, and the standards that define how they connect have become the central front of a quiet contest reshaping the world.

In AI and the New Trade Wars, Shane Larson cuts through the noise to explain how technology became the most strategic resource on earth. Drawing the threads together in plain language, this book maps the semiconductor supply chain, the talent war, data sovereignty, the rare-earth bottleneck, and the regulatory strategies of the world's major players—then turns to what it all means for businesses trying to operate in a fragmenting market.

This is not a partisan book. It does not pick sides or predict doom. It is an analytical, anti-hype guide for readers who want to understand the forces driving the headlines and make smarter decisions because of it.

What you'll learn:

Why a single advanced semiconductor is now more strategically valuable than a barrel of oil How export controls became a primary tool of foreign policy Why the global race for AI talent matters as much as the race for chips How data sovereignty and technical standards quietly shape who wins Why rare-earth minerals are a chokepoint few companies plan for How regulation, parallel tech ecosystems, and the rest of the world fit together Practical frameworks for running a business in a fragmenting world Three concrete scenarios for the next decade—and how to prepare for each

This book is for you if:

You follow the AI boom but feel you're missing the bigger geopolitical picture You lead strategy, operations, or supply chains and need to plan around technology risk You want a clear, non-partisan analysis instead of hype or alarmism You enjoyed Chip War, AI Superpowers, or The World Is Flat and want the next chapter

Understand the contest that will define the next decade—and what it means for your business. Read AI and the New Trade Wars today.