Chinese AI models meet rare-earth race

Chinese open-source AI models like Kimi K3 are entering global markets, raising questions about security coordination rather than the models themselves. The core vulnerability lies in infrastructure protection against cyber attacks, not the origin of the code. Meanwhile, a different competition plays out in Kenya, where a rare-earth stockpile sits beneath a sacred hill. US, Chinese, and Australian companies are vying for control of these critical minerals, with the local environment at risk. Both dynamics reflect how technology competition is moving beyond software into physical supply chains. The infrastructure question spans digital and geological assets.