Recent apocalyptic narratives surrounding artificial intelligence have emerged in the United States with some researchers and CEOs urging a slowdown in AI development. Simultaneously, opposition to the necessary data centers for AI is growing across the country. China is reportedly amplifying these divisions through a vast network of fake social media accounts. While criticisms of AI and data centers are not entirely fabricated, China exploits existing American disagreements. Democracies often face fears of new technologies leading to societal destruction, allowing for protest and regulation. Authoritarian regimes, conversely, suppress debate and leverage rivals' hesitation to advance their own technological programs. historical parallels can be seen in the atomic bomb era, where fears of an uncontrolled reaction existed but were ultimately deemed negligible. Oppenheimer's concerns about the atomic bomb's implications were later entangled with his political associations. The Soviet Union and China did not allow public debate on nuclear proliferation, while the West engaged in significant anti-nuclear movements. Climate change later became another focus for apocalyptic politics, leading to policies that contributed to Western deindustrialization. Simultaneously, China, unhindered by similar constraints, built extensive industrial supply chains, increasing Western dependence. The pattern is now repeating with AI, as China implements strategies to control AI infrastructure and its supporting systems. While the United States debates moratoriums, China prioritizes AI development as a pillar of national power. China is also actively working to shape global AI governance through organizations like the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. While AI requires robust safeguards, regulation should enhance safety, not halt development. Democratic societies possess a moral strength in open debate, but excessive caution can be exploited by authoritarian competitors. Ultimately, the United States can control its own AI development path, but it cannot stop global AI progress driven by nations like China.