In a Senate hearing, top executives from leading AI companies warned that while the US currently holds a lead over China in the AI race, maintaining this advantage requires increased investment in infrastructure and easing export restrictions on AI chips. The hearing, led by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, focused on how the US can adjust its AI regulatory policies to sustain technological dominance.
Key participants included Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) President Brad Smith, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and AMD (AMD) CEO Lisa Su. Smith emphasized that global adoption of technology is crucial in the AI competition between the US and China. He noted risks associated with Chinese AI products and mentioned Microsoft's prohibition on using tools from the Chinese startup DeepSeek. Smith highlighted the need for the US to learn from its experience with Huawei and 5G.
Altman stressed the importance of significant investment in AI infrastructure, such as data centers and power facilities, to support large-scale computing resources. Participants largely opposed current export restrictions, arguing that excessive regulation weakens US competitiveness and cedes the vast Chinese market to others. Cruz advocated for innovation over restrictive policies as the pathway to winning the AI race.
