Overview
- Microsoft’s usage data shows Chinese open‑source models led by DeepSeek’s R1 hold 56% share in Belarus, 49% in Cuba, and 43% in Russia.
- The research estimates notable footholds in Africa, including 18% in Ethiopia and 17% in Zimbabwe.
- Smith says Chinese government subsidies enable providers to undercut U.S. companies on price, accelerating uptake outside traditional Western markets.
- U.S. tech firms are pushing for quicker data‑center approvals, citing reports that more than $64.4 billion in projects were blocked or delayed over the past two years.
- Smith calls for support from development banks to build AI capacity in emerging markets, even as Chinese developers rely on U.S. hardware such as Nvidia chips for advanced training.