---
id: "action-scout-locations-by-need"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ How to Develop a Country-Level AI Strategy"]
tags: ["site-selection", "infrastructure", "strategy"]
related: ["framework-national-ai-capability", "claim-energy-dictates-generative-ai", "framework-global-ai-strategy"]
action: "Match specific AI technical requirements (e.g., energy, robotics, talent) to the unique infrastructural strengths of different countries."
outcome: "Optimized resource allocation and access to specialized ecosystems that accelerate specific AI development goals."
speakers: ["Yasuhiro Yamakawa", "Thomas H. Davenport"]
sources: ["futures"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-futures"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-cl-94-ai-strategy-beyond-us-china"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2025/12/your-ai-strategy-needs-to-expand-beyond-the-u-s-and-china"
sourceTitle: "Your AI Strategy Needs to Expand Beyond the U.S. and China"
---
# Scout locations based on specific AI infrastructure needs

**Action:** Match specific AI technical requirements (energy, robotics, talent) to the unique infrastructural strengths of different countries.

**Do this:** Do not default to the U.S. or China for all AI operations. Match your specific technical requirements to national strengths:
- Developing **robotics** → establish a presence in **Japan** ([[concept-embodied-ai-specialization]]).
- Training massive **generative models** requiring cheap, abundant electricity → look to **France, Canada, or the Nordics** ([[claim-energy-dictates-generative-ai]]).
- Need a deep **talent pool** → expand searches to **India, Israel, Singapore, and Switzerland**.

This is step 1 of the [[framework-global-ai-strategy]], executed against the [[framework-national-ai-capability]].

**Outcome:** Optimized resource allocation and access to specialized ecosystems that accelerate specific AI development goals.