WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Edge Project, a coalition of nearly two dozen domestic organizations, released the following statement in reaction to a new article by Reuters detailing how China continues to use technology to advance its authoritarian views.

The following is attributable to AEP CEO Doug Kelly:

“The United States and China are currently locked in a high-stakes competition for global technology leadership, with artificial intelligence (AI) at the center. The winner of this race will earn a decades-long military and economic advantage and extensive geopolitical influence.

“We cannot tie our hands behind our back and let China take the lead. Instead, we must align around policies that accelerate AI and tech innovation. Further, as former Congressman and American Edge Project Board Member Chris Carney noted in a recent op-ed, America must ‘focus on incentivizing innovation and promoting collaboration between the government and the tech industry. A united front is essential to counter the cyber threats we face and position the U.S. to lead the way in developing AI and the next generation of breakthrough technologies. The future of American security and economic prosperity depends on it.’

“China understands these long-term benefits and is pursuing a three-part plan to overtake America by investing $1.4 trillion in strategic technologies, with a goal of being global AI leader by 2030; stealing $500 billion annually in U.S. tech and trade secrets; and increasing dependency on Chinese technology to gain global economic and geopolitical leverage.

“China is also leveraging cyberattacks to steal American intellectual property and technology capabilities, including in AI developments. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher Wray sounded the alarm on China’s technological theft saying, ‘[n]ation-state adversaries, particularly China, pose a significant threat to American companies and national security by stealing our AI technology and data to advance their own AI programs and enable foreign influence campaigns.’ He noted, ‘China already has a bigger hacking program than every other major nation combined,’ highlighting how they are hacking every industry ‘from biotech to aviation, to advanced technologies like AI, to different forms of healthcare and agriculture – to steal our intellectual property, technology, and research.’

“AI will have a transformative impact, including in national and economic security, healthcare, energy and other strategic fields. It will matter greatly what set of values – democratic or authoritarian – underpins this innovation. That’s why America must win the AI race.

“To accomplish this, we need to ensure domestic companies – who are responsive to an American, democratic value system – are leading in the development of a diversity of AI approaches, including both closed and open-source AI. If we fail to lead in every facet of this critical and emerging technology, we risk handing China an edge that the United States will likely never recover.

Recent polling undertaken by the American Edge Project shows among America’s allies there is agreement open-source AI strengthens core values and tech innovations, underscoring the need for cooperation across the Western alliance to ensure like-minded nations remain the lead innovators in the diversity of AI models.

“When it comes to AI innovation, China knows that leading in multiple approaches is necessary and in September a Chinese tech firm released over 100 open-source models in 29 languages. This summer The New York Times also reported that ‘China is closing the AI gap with the United States’ and unveiling ‘AI technologies that rival leading American systems.’

“America cannot fall behind, the stakes are too high.”

BACKGROUND:

The American Edge Project is a coalition of domestic organizations representing a cross-section of U.S. innovators who are dedicated to telling the story about technology’s positive influence on America’s economy and the vital role innovation plays in our society. Former New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, former U.S. Representative Chris Carney, and former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley A. Smith are directors of the American Edge Project. AEP’s National Security Advisory Board is comprised of Former White House Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend; retired four-star General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., United States Marine Corps (USMC), who served as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and former Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Michael J. Morell. Former U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) serve as Co-Chairs of the Project’s Economic Advisory Board. Former U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) and Former U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) serve as Co-Chairs of the Project’s Open & Accessible Internet Advisory Board.

Visit AmericanEdgeProject.org for more information.