a16z Goes Global: Why American Tech Must Lead the World

If tomorrow all the technologies you use – from your refrigerator to your car, from school to work – were powered by artificial intelligences that have strong opinions about history, culture, and values, would you be sure you want to let these opinions be decided elsewhere? Today, AI models are not neutral: they are imbued with the ideas of those who build them. This is the real issue at stake as to why America wants – and according to a16z must – lead global technology. The common narrative is that technological innovation is a race between products, or that it takes only money and talent anywhere to recreate a new Silicon Valley. But the real game changer is that software is now the battlefield of geopolitics. Military power is no longer enough: deterrence is played out on the speed with which private individuals – not governments – react to threats, and these private individuals are almost always American tech companies. Ben Horowitz, co-founder of a16z, puts it bluntly: if today you only have an idea and no resources, the best place to try is still America. Not only for the money, but for a unique mix of culture, laws that facilitate entrepreneurship and, above all, a mentality where "ambition" is not an insult. Ann Miura-Ko, a former member of the White House Intelligence Committee, has seen technology go from a simple tool to a real international battleground. The case of AI chips or the drug supply chain proves it: whoever controls these hubs not only has an economic advantage, but can exercise almost state-like power over others. Then there's the story of Alonso Anguiano, CEO of TelevisaUnivision in Mexico, who produced incredible content in Spanish but couldn't export it because of the local accent. With the American technology from 11 Labs, he managed to keep the actors' performances intact and adapt them to every language and culture, eventually signing an agreement with Netflix. This is not just business: it is the export of values through technology, without censorship or political manipulation as happens in other countries where, as they have said, certain topics are "corrected" by AI models to align with regime narratives. And here comes the real question: while tech products spread globally in an instant, the way of doing business in countries does not change at the same speed. In many economies, personal relationships matter more than transactions, and scaling requires a local presence and a trusted network, not just a global platform. That's why a16z invests time building relationships with governments, companies, and investors in countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Mexico. The paradox? Often, countries that want to "recreate Silicon Valley" underestimate how difficult it is to replicate the cultural and regulatory conditions that make America unique. It is not enough to have excellent universities. What's needed are laws that incentivize risk, an environment where failure doesn't mean exclusion, and a culture where entrepreneurial success is respected and not viewed with suspicion. In many societies, those who make a lot of money are seen as thieves, not as people who have created value. And this mentality, says Ben, is the hardest thing to build – and the easiest to destroy. A practical fact: today, thanks to AI, a company can reach global customers long before it has an international structure. But to really expand, heavy investments are still needed – even 5 or 10 million just to enter a new country – and the only way to justify this expense is to immediately have great opportunities, often made possible only by strong partnerships in the area. The perspective that is not often heard is this: if we allow global AI models to be built according to other values – perhaps authoritarian, or with a culture of censorship – not only do we lose market share, but we risk the very infrastructure of society reflecting principles that are far removed from our own. And when national security depends on digital systems, even a software vulnerability becomes a geopolitical threat, not just an IT problem. Today, the real challenge is not selling software around the world, but making sure that the values embedded in the technology that will govern everything – health, education, security – are the ones we consider best for humanity. In one sentence: America that leads not only for business, but because whoever wins the technological race decides which values become universal. If, while listening to this story, you realized that behind every app you use there are battles of values, on Lara Notes you can declare that this perspective belongs to you with I'm In – it's not just a like, it's your way of saying "this idea is now mine." And if in a few days you find yourself discussing with someone why even a software vulnerability can change geopolitics, on Lara Notes you can tag those who were with you with Shared Offline – so that conversation stays alive. This Note comes from a16z and saved you 38 minutes.