Carnegie Endowment Report Proposes U.S.-Led 'Compute Coalition' to Lock In AI Dominance Against China
English summary
In June 2026, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released a report by former U.S. Commerce advisor Alasdair Phillips-Robins, calling for a U.S.-led 'Compute Coalition' of allies (including EU, UK, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, and India). The report finds that the U.S. hosts 73% of the world's advanced AI computing clusters, but domestic grid constraints and political resistance limit expansion, while China is rapidly closing the gap with massive state investment and 2.5 times the U.S. electricity generation. It argues that no single country can dominate alone; a coalition would combine allies' electricity, semiconductor equipment, talent, and capital to outpace China. Key recommendations include accelerating permitting and grid upgrades over subsidies, establishing fast-track investment channels among allies, and aligning AI transparency and testing standards. The proposal explicitly presents the coalition as a loose, interests-based network to build a physical compute barrier around China.
Chinese summary
2026年6月，卡内基国际和平基金会发布了由前美国商务部顾问阿拉斯代尔·菲利普斯-罗宾斯牵头的研究报告，呼吁美国联合主要盟友（含欧盟、英国、日本、韩国、加拿大、澳大利亚和印度）组建“算力联盟”。报告指出，美国虽拥有全球73%的先进AI算力集群，但本土电网容量和政治阻力制约扩张；中国则以巨额国家投资和美国2.5倍的发电量快速追赶。报告认为任何单一国家都无法独自胜出，联合盟友则可整合电力、半导体设备、人才和资本形成绝对优势。核心建议是以加速审批和电网改革替代财政补贴，建立盟友间投资快速通道，统一AI透明度与测试标准。该方案实质为以美国利益为核心的松散联盟，意图构筑对华算力壁垒。
Key points
The U.S. controls 73% of advanced AI compute clusters, but faces grid bottlenecks, state-level development moratoriums, and a power deficit compared to China, which generates 2.5x more electricity.
美国拥有73%的先进AI算力集群，但面临电网瓶颈、州级开发暂停令以及发电量仅为中国的40%的电力缺口。
The report advocates a loose 'Compute Coalition' of allies to pool electricity, manufacturing, talent, and capital, explicitly aiming to box out China from advanced AI infrastructure.
报告主张建立松散的盟友“算力联盟”，整合电力、制造、人才与资本，明确意图将中国排除在先进AI基础设施之外。
Policy reforms prioritize speed over cash subsidies: a one-year delay costs $550 million per 100MW facility, so fast-track permitting and grid modernization are the core tools.
政策改革以提速为核心，财务模型显示100MW数据中心延迟一年将损失5.5亿美元，快速审批和电网现代化比直接补贴更有效。