RARE/EARTH - The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals and the AI Supply Chain

Explore the complex intersection of artificial intelligence development and global resource extraction in this comprehensive conference talk examining how the AI revolution depends on critical minerals primarily sourced from the Global South. Delve into the geopolitical implications of the tech industry's growing demand for natural resources including rare earth elements, energy, land, and water that power AI hardware production and deployment. Analyze how generative AI has intensified existing tensions over resource access and created new geopolitical dynamics, particularly in the emerging "critical mineral supercycle" that is reshaping power relations between major nations like China and the United States. Learn from leading experts in AI policy, geopolitics, infrastructure studies, and resource extraction as they dissect the AI value chain's dependence on extractive economies and examine how this resource competition is influencing both technological development and international relations. Gain insights into the environmental and social costs of AI expansion while understanding the strategic importance of mineral supply chains in determining global technological leadership and economic power.