Washington, Jan 20 (NationPress) White House science adviser Michael Kratsios has raised alarms about China's swift progress in artificial intelligence, emphasizing the urgent need for Congress to enact legislation, allocate funding, and enhance infrastructure to maintain the United States' leadership in a technology that is increasingly vital for economic power and national security.

During his testimony last week before a House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee regarding the administration's AI Action Plan, Kratsios noted that the United States has transitioned from a position of clear dominance to one of escalating competition.

“In 2020, the American innovation sector enjoyed a substantial lead in AI,” Kratsios informed lawmakers. “By 2024, that gap has started to close significantly.”

Kratsios mentioned that the Trump administration has shifted focus from strategy to execution since rolling out Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan last summer. This plan emphasizes three core areas: innovation, infrastructure, and international partnerships to sustain the US’s leadership.

Subcommittee chair Jay Obernolte warned that artificial intelligence is becoming a fundamental driver of global innovation, highlighting that competitors like the Chinese Communist Party are trying to weaken US advantages through research espionage, AI-driven cyberattacks, and control of critical infrastructure.

“AI-driven cyberattacks pose a growing threat that necessitates continuous vigilance,” Obernolte stated, urging Congress to create a unified federal framework for this technology.

Kratsios indicated that access to advanced computing capabilities and dependable energy sources will determine which nations lead in AI development. He emphasized the significance of US national laboratories, which host some of the globe’s most powerful supercomputers, alongside the administration’s initiative to expand nuclear power and advanced reactor technologies to meet the increasing electricity demands from data centers.

Lawmakers from both parties also underscored the necessity of US-led standards for artificial intelligence, asserting that technical norms will influence global adoption as profoundly as breakthroughs in chips or software.

Kratsios mentioned that the administration intends to implement an AI export program aimed at ensuring US companies provide trustworthy AI systems to partners and allies, thereby preventing Chinese technology from becoming the standard in global markets.

“We are at a pivotal moment,” he stated. “If we act decisively, the American AI stack can emerge as the dominant stack worldwide.”

Committee chairman Brian Babin remarked that US leadership in artificial intelligence is crucial for economic competitiveness and national security, equating this situation to previous technological races in space and nuclear energy.

He urged Congress to back research and development, workforce training, and accessibility to federal computing resources, while steering clear of regulatory fragmentation that could hinder innovation.

Several lawmakers expressed concern that a disjointed array of state-level AI laws might disadvantage US startups, as larger technology firms could better absorb compliance costs.

Kratsios echoed these sentiments, cautioning that fragmented regulations would be “anti-innovation” and could speed up consolidation within the technology sector.

Although there is broad bipartisan consensus on the stakes involved, lawmakers recognized that challenging discussions lie ahead regarding export controls, standards-setting, and how to balance innovation with security and oversight.