The Era of Invisible Barriers
If old wars divided the world with massive missiles and tall barbed wire fences, today’s wars quietly unfold behind our smartphones and monitors. Invisible semiconductor circuits and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are building new walls.
Modern technology gifts us incredible possibilities as wonderful ’tools,’ but at the same time, it carries the warning that it can become sharp ‘weapons’ dividing the world and competing for power. Let’s step into this vast and quiet transformation through the story of Minjun, a planner preparing an international conference in Seoul in 2025.
Part 1: The Heart of AI, Where Every Story Begins
Long before Minjun’s project started on the desk, an invisible war was raging behind the scenes. It was the battle over the ‘heart’ of the two AIs Minjun would use — the semiconductors.
The US blocked the cutting-edge AI semiconductors made by NVIDIA from reaching China. The idea was to cut off the supply of the core ‘fuel’ that makes AI smart, slowing the growth of Chinese AI. Meanwhile, China relentlessly pushed to achieve top performance with limited resources.
The outcome of this fierce hardware war created the distinct personalities and capabilities of the two AIs Minjun would soon experience.
Part 2: One User, Two Worlds
Minjun’s mission was to successfully host an international biotech conference in Seoul. For this massive project, she hired two very special AI assistants: the latest American AI model ‘Astra’ and China’s largest search engine AI, ‘Wenxin 4.0.’
#Scene 1: The Moment Inspiration is Needed, Partner ‘Astra’
At the first stage of planning, facing a blank page and feeling overwhelmed, Minjun quietly called on Astra.
“Astra, could you draft a conference concept around the theme ‘The Connection of Life’? I want it to be fresh and deeply moving. Also, please prepare a promotional video script and stage design concepts.”
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Seconds later, an astonishing result unfolded on Minjun’s screen. Astra didn’t just list information; it created an emotional story titled ‘The Journey of Life Beginning at Mother River.’ Based on this, a poetic video script, a dynamic stage design resembling whales swimming in the ocean, and even a dreamy melody sample suitable for background music appeared instantly.
“Wow… this is beyond what I imagined.”
Astra was Minjun’s ‘inspiring creative partner.’ It was a powerful ‘tool of creation’ that helped her soar beyond the limits of reality by building on human ideas.
#Scene 2: The Moment Reality Hits, Problem Solver ‘Wenxin 4.0’
The fantastic concept was complete, but now came the complex reality. She had to safely invite 20 researchers from the Shanghai branch to Seoul. Flights, hotels, visas, local transportation… just thinking about it was headache-inducing. Minjun immediately switched to Wenxin 4.0.
“Wenxin, book round-trip flights and hotels for 20 Shanghai researchers according to the conference schedule. Handle everything within company policy, and for those needing visas, please book the earliest consulate appointments all at once.”
Wenxin’s reply was brief and clear: “Processing.” Within 2–3 minutes, Minjun’s screen displayed a fully resolved report. All 20 plane and KTX seats, hotel rooms were booked, and visa interview appointments for five people were scheduled. Wenxin even analyzed past business trips to accommodate individual seat preferences (window or aisle) and recommended vegetarian dinner options.
Wenxin was a ‘perfect executor solving problems.’ Connected to all city systems, it flawlessly handled complex real-world issues with powerful ‘efficiency tools.’
The Future We Will Choose
Thanks to collaboration with the two AIs, Minjun smoothly completed the conference preparations and paused to reflect. Without Astra, such creative planning wouldn’t have even started; without Wenxin, execution would have been a nightmare.
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Her experience might be a small microcosm of the ‘two-divided AI worlds’ we may face ahead.
- US-centered AI will elevate individual creativity and freedom of expression, becoming an amazing source of inspiration.
- China-centered AI will maximize societal efficiency and convenience, becoming a problem solver that makes life incredibly comfortable.
This goes beyond technological differences; it reflects a philosophical divide about which values matter more. Should we prioritize free personal imagination, or should we first ensure societal stability and efficiency? At the end of this quiet new Cold War, we may have to walk a tightrope between these two worlds, just like Minjun.
This powerful AI can be the best ‘tool’ for all of us. But at the same time, it can become an invisible ‘weapon’ enforcing specific values and systems.
Which AI assistant would you want by your side in the future? That choice will determine the world we live in.
