Tech leaders in Silicon Valley are ramping up their lobbying efforts in Washington as the tech and economic cold war between the United States and China intensifies. With the recent ban on the Chinese-owned app TikTok and the addition of chips from Intel and AMD to a Chinese blacklist, tensions are high between the two global superpowers.
More than 100 tech chiefs and investors, including prominent figures like Alex Karp of Palantir and Roelof Botha of Sequoia Capital, will gather in Washington for a daylong conference and private dinner focused on pushing for a more hawkish approach towards China’s progress in artificial intelligence (A.I.). Lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, will also attend the event, known as the Hill & Valley Forum, to discuss A.I. regulations and government spending on A.I. technology and research.
The event highlights a rare area of agreement between Washington and Silicon Valley, as both sides recognize the importance of maintaining American leadership in A.I. technology. As the debate over competition for tech leadership heats up, concerns have been raised about potential harms of A.I. tools, such as job displacement, disinformation, and election interference.
Despite concerns, tech executives are pushing for more aggressive policies towards China in the A.I. space. With lobbying efforts on A.I. increasing significantly in the past year, companies like Palantir are doubling down on their spending to influence policy decisions.
As the U.S. and China race to dominate the A.I. landscape, the stakes are high for both countries. While experts suggest that the U.S. currently leads in generative A.I., China may be ahead in talent. The event in May will focus on not only A.I. but also legislation to ban TikTok and the space race between the U.S. and China.
With Silicon Valley leaders and lawmakers coming together to address the challenges posed by China’s technological advancements, the future of A.I. and tech policy remains uncertain. As the U.S. and China continue to compete for dominance in the tech sector, the implications for global innovation and security are profound.
