“There’s no reason we shouldn’t build data centers in Africa. In fact, I think it’d be great to build data centers in Africa. As long as they’re not owned by China, we should build data centers in Africa. I think that’s a great thing to do.” – Dario Amodei – CEO, Anthropic
In a candid interview with Dwarkesh Patel on 13 February 2026, Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, articulated a bold vision for expanding AI infrastructure into Africa. This statement underscores his broader concerns about securing AI leadership against geopolitical rivals, particularly China, while harnessing untapped opportunities in emerging markets.1,3,5
Who is Dario Amodei?
Dario Amodei is a leading figure in artificial intelligence, serving as CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, a public benefit corporation focused on developing reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Prior to Anthropic, Amodei was Vice President of Research at OpenAI, where he contributed to the development of seminal models like GPT-2 and GPT-3. Before that, he worked as a senior research scientist at Google Brain. His departure from OpenAI in 2021 stemmed from a commitment to prioritise safety and responsible development, which he felt was not being adequately addressed there.3
Amodei is renowned for his ‘doomer’ perspective on AI risks, likening advanced systems to ‘a country of geniuses in a data centre’-vast networks of superhuman intelligence capable of outperforming humans in tasks like software design, cyber operations, and even relationship building.3,4,5 This metaphor recurs in his writings, such as the essay ‘Machines of Loving Grace,’ where he balances enthusiasm for AI’s potential abundance with warnings of existential dangers if not managed properly.6
Under Amodei’s leadership, Anthropic has pioneered initiatives like mechanistic interpretability research-to peer inside AI models and understand their decision-making-and a Responsible Scaling Policy (RSP). The RSP, inspired by biosafety levels, mandates escalating security measures as model capabilities grow, positioning Anthropic as a leader in AI safety.3
The Context of the Quote
Amodei’s remark emerged amid discussions on AI’s infrastructure demands and geopolitical strategy. He has repeatedly stressed the need for the US and its allies to build data centres aggressively to maintain primacy in AI, warning that delays could prove ‘ruinous.’1 In the same interview and related forums, he advocated cutting chip supplies to China and constructing facilities in friendly nations to prevent adversaries from commandeering infrastructure.3
This aligns with his recent essay ‘The Adolescence of Technology,’ a 19,000-word manifesto outlining AI as a ‘serious civilisational challenge.’ There, Amodei calls for progressive taxation to distribute AI-generated wealth, AI transparency laws, and proactive policies to avert public backlash-warning tech leaders, ‘You’re going to get a mob coming for you if you don’t do this in the right way.’2 He dismisses some public fears, like data centres’ water usage, as overstated, pivoting instead to long-term abundance.2
The Africa focus counters narratives of exclusionary AI growth. Amodei argues against sidelining developing nations, proposing data centres there as a win-win: boosting local economies while diluting China’s influence in critical infrastructure.7
Leading Theorists on AI Infrastructure, Geopolitics, and Development
Amodei’s views build on foundational thinkers in AI safety and geopolitics:
- Nick Bostrom: Philosopher and director of the Future of Humanity Institute, Bostrom’s ‘Superintelligence’ (2014) warns of uncontrolled AI leading to existential risks, influencing Amodei’s emphasis on interpretability and scaling policies.3
- Eliezer Yudkowsky: Co-founder of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, Yudkowsky’s alignment research stresses preventing AI from pursuing misaligned goals, echoing Amodei’s ‘country of geniuses’ concerns about intent and control.3,4
- Stuart Russell: UC Berkeley professor and co-author of ‘Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach,’ Russell advocates human-compatible AI, aligning with Anthropic’s steerability focus.3
- Geopolitical Strategists like Graham Allison: In ‘Destined for War,’ Allison frames US-China rivalry as a Thucydides Trap, paralleling Amodei’s calls to outpace China in AI hardware.3
These theorists collectively shape the discourse on AI as both an economic boon and a strategic vulnerability, with infrastructure as the linchpin.1,2,3
Implications for Global AI Strategy
Amodei’s advocacy highlights Africa’s potential in the AI race: abundant renewable energy, growing digital economies, and strategic neutrality. Yet challenges persist, including energy demands, regulatory hurdles, and security risks. His vision promotes inclusive growth, ensuring AI benefits extend beyond superpowers while safeguarding against authoritarian capture.7
References
3. https://www.cfr.org/event/ceo-speaker-series-dario-amodei-anthropic
4. https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/01/28/humanity-needs-to-wake-up-to-ai-threats-anthropic-ceo-says
5. https://www.dwarkesh.com/p/dario-amodei-2
6. https://www.darioamodei.com/essay/machines-of-loving-grace
8. https://time.com/7372694/ai-anthropic-market-energy-impact/
