Imran Khalid
Dr Imran Khalid is a freelance columnist on international affairs based in Karachi, Pakistan. He qualified as a physician from Dow Medical University in 1991 and has a master's degree in international relations from Karachi University.
The Global South’s new AI architects
/ 16 January 2026

The Global South’s new AI architects

The rise of Chinese AI is not just a story of national success; it is a story of how China is capturing the “means of development” for the entire world. By providing efficient, permissive and highly capable tools, China has lowered the entry barrier to the AI age for everyone