ABSTRACT. This paper explores the phenomenon of supercapitalism in the digital age, tracing its evolution and impact on global economics and technology. I begin by examining the fundamental shift from knowledge-based economies to data-driven paradigms, which has reshaped industries and market dynamics. This transition has given rise to trillion-dollar Big Tech companies in the West, paralleled by the rapid emergence of tech giants in China. The study then delves into the exponential growth of key strategic digital technologies that underpin these corporate behemoths and drive innovation across sectors. Particular attention is given to the development of supercomputers and advanced chip technologies, which have become critical to maintaining technological supremacy. Finally, I analyze the geopolitical implications of AI chip development, highlighting how the race for computational dominance is reshaping international relations and economic strategies. This comprehensive overview illuminates the intricate relationships between technological advancement, economic power, and global politics in the era of supercapitalism.

Keywords: supercapitalism; data economy; Big Tech; China tech giants; digital technologies; supercomputing; AI chips; geopolitics; technological supremacy; global economics; innovation; data-driven paradigms; computational dominance

How to cite: Peters, M. A. (2025). “Digital Supercapitalism, AI and the Knowledge Economy: Data-Driven Geopolitics and the Rise of the Trillion Dollar Big Tech Company,” Geopolitics, History, and International Relations 17(2): 9–28. doi: 10.22381/GHIR17220251.

Received 27 July 2024 • Received in revised form 26 August 2024
Accepted 26 August 2024 • Available online 10 September 2024