Do I think this is the largest single geostrategic issue facing the world right now?
Absolutely.
The default Chinese position is exactly the same as President Trump's position:
this is an active strategic competition in AI across the stack, and whoever wins AI wins.
From AI safety to climate change and war in the Middle East,
Kevin Rudd is well placed to answer that.
He's a former Australian Prime Minister and, until recently, Australia's ambassador in Washington.
The other day, I sat down with him in New York as the leaders' summit wrapped up in Washington
and what it's like for middle powers like Australia caught between two giant rivals.
Kevin Rudd, welcome to Inside Geopolitics.
Good to be with you.
Good to be with The Economist.
Well, thank you, and it's a real treat to have someone who is a serious China scholar,
but also someone who's worked at the highest level as a prime minister.
You know these people.
And as a politician, maybe it's annoying when people look at a summit and say,
"Who's the winner, who's the loser?"
But at a basic level, we've just had this meeting.
It's just in its last moments as we record this between the world's two most powerful men.
Did you see one of them as the obvious top dog?