Open Source Is Geopolitical Now

Summary

Open source software powers most of the modern world - from the Linux servers running our internet to the Android phones in our pockets. Once seen purely as a software development model, open source is now a geopolitical topic. Governments and companies alike recognize that whoever controls key technologies gains strategic advantage.A good example for the geopolitical relevance of open source is DeepSeek, which caused an “AI Sputnik moment,” showing that big AI breakthroughs aren’t restricted to Silicon Valley. Some people even speculate that China released DeepSeek strategically to push OpenAI toward open sourcing, though that’s likely not true.China has been embracing open source for over a decade. Most major Chinese tech companies are part of the Linux Foundation and today Chinese firms rank among the top contributors to projects like Linux and Kubernetes. Companies like Huawei, Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba have collectively open-sourced thousands of projects and contributed code to global communities.By participating in and creating open platforms, China reduces its dependence on US technology and mitigates the risk of sanctions or export controls. In other words, open source is seen as a way to level the playing field and ensure no single foreign player can hold China’s tech progress hostage.Open source gives China access to global innovation while also seeding homegrown alternatives (for example, Huawei’s open-source HarmonyOS was developed to lessen reliance on Android).The DeepSeek saga fits this pattern – it’s as much about self-reliance and pride in China’s AI capabilities as it is about competing with any one Western company.Beyond collaboration, open source is a strategic tool in the high-stakes tech arena. There are two modes to this game: “attack” and “defense.” Companies - and nations - switch between these modes depending on their market position.When a competitor is leading the pack, one way to close the gap is to open source your technology – effect...