Last week, in El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele made history. Under his leadership, El Salvador secured “the world’s first sovereign quote for NVIDIA’s cutting-edge B300 chips.” In doing so, they established a roadmap for our AI future. Across the Western Hemisphere, there is a race happening before our very eyes. Whoever wins that race will establish the AI framework that governs our world. One competitor is China, with its heavy-handed state-subsidized industrial policy. The other competitor is the United States, with its culture of free markets and record of world-defining innovation. Countries that choose Chinese AI stacks today will find themselves dependent on Beijing's ecosystem for decades, which would bring wide-ranging national security ramifications for the United States in the future.
Perhaps nowhere in the world is the future of AI more competitive than in Latin America. Before it’s too late, the United States must seize upon the El Salvador model to ensure that American technology is powering our AI future. As someone who's spent over a decade building digital experiences with partners like Disney, Marvel, and LucasFilm, I can confidently state that this isn’t just another tech deal, but rather the blueprint for how America approaches AI leadership in the Western Hemisphere.
What most people don't realize is that Latin America is already primed for our AI future. Many countries across Latin America are already powered by abundant, clean, and affordable energy. As someone with firsthand experience building AI-powered gaming experiences, I can tell you this matters enormously. The next generation of AI applications – whether they're powering autonomous systems, creating immersive digital worlds, or processing massive datasets – are all extremely energy-hungry. Even more importantly, the political culture in key countries, like Argentina and El Salvador, have moved rapidly toward alignment with the United States. This seismic shift in the political environment means that Latin America isn't just ready for this AI future; it's perfectly positioned to lead it.
While Washington debates export controls, Latin America is using their clean energy production to power the largest digital infrastructure boom in its history. America’s leading AI companies are at the very forefront of this exciting development. Microsoft just committed $2.7 billion to expand in Brazil. Amazon pledged $5 billion for infrastructure in Mexico. Google is building an $850 million data center in Uruguay. By partnering with key countries in Latin America, American companies are ensuring that our AI framework is front and center. Yet, without a comprehensive strategy, such as a Monroe Doctrine for AI, these one-off investments in Latin America are at risk of being overtaken by China’s state-directed AI push.
After all, while America is debating the pathway forward on AI, China is forging ahead in the Western Hemisphere, building influence and locking in their tech stack across Latin America. Chinese companies are bidding on 5G networks, proposing comprehensive technology packages, and creating exactly the kind of technological dependencies that made Belt and Road so effective. When China inevitably floods global markets with "good enough" AI chips and infrastructure, Latin America could become the testing ground for Chinese technological dominance.
To combat this, America needs a strategic framework that treats Latin America as a true partner, not just a market. El Salvador's B300 deal shows what's possible when governments get access to cutting-edge American technology. Countries adopting these American standards should receive preferential access to American innovation ecosystems. This creates jobs back in the United States while building technological integration that makes Chinese alternatives economically irrational.
In the entertainment industry, timing is everything. Miss the platform shift, and you're playing catch-up for years. America has a limited window of maximum leverage to establish this hemispheric framework before Chinese alternatives become too attractive and switching costs too high. Our technological lead in AI remains substantial, but it's not permanent. Chinese companies are improving rapidly while offering increasingly comprehensive packages.
The original Monroe Doctrine succeeded because it aligned with Latin American interests in independence and development. A Monroe Doctrine for AI must do the same. This means treating Latin American countries as creative partners in building hemispheric AI leadership, not just customers for American technology. It means providing better alternatives to Chinese packages, not just restrictions on Chinese access. The future isn't just on the horizon; it's being built right now. The only question is whether America will lead this hemispheric transformation or watch China design it instead.
Marc Seal is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sortium, a venture-backed AI company pioneering synthetic media and IP protection in entertainment, and Co-Founder of ThriveLab, an AI-driven health and wellness platform. His work spans entertainment, healthcare, and infrastructure, with a focus on building scalable, intelligent systems. He previously served at The Topps Company under Michael Eisner and has advised The Walt Disney Company on integrating emerging technologies into immersive experiences, as well as notable industry leaders on the global impact of frontier technologies.