Tech Titans Warn Congress: Boost U.S. AI or Fall Behind China

AI Arms Race Heats Up

Top U.S. tech executives are calling on Congress to take strategic action to ensure American dominance in artificial intelligence amid growing competition from China. During a recent bipartisan AI summit in Washington, industry leaders—including Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia—warned that without serious government support for domestic infrastructure, STEM talent development, and accelerated export policies, the U.S. risks falling behind. “The AI race is not just technological—it’s geopolitical,” said one executive. Their message was clear: the pace of AI innovation will hinge as much on legislative foresight as it will on technical prowess.

Policy Gaps Threaten Competitive Edge

The executives emphasized three immediate concerns: outdated export controls that hamper global collaboration, underinvestment in computing infrastructure, and bureaucratic bottlenecks in research and development funding. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the critical role of high-performance chips, while Microsoft President Brad Smith called for stronger data center capacity and energy support. The summit’s urgency reflected a bipartisan understanding among lawmakers that America must keep pace with China’s state-backed AI initiatives. Lawmakers, in turn, appeared receptive, signaling interest in crafting updated policies that reflect the high-stakes nature of AI as a tool of national power.