By Rep. Loretta Sanchez and Rep. Greg Walden
Over the past year, artificial intelligence has burst into the public consciousness, rapidly ascending from an obscure tech term to an integral part of our daily lives. It’s an exciting and fascinating rise that offers a glimpse of what is to come.
In the coming years, a new wave of cutting-edge technologies — such as quantum computing, machine learning, biotechnology and advanced robotics — will fundamentally reshape the way we live, work and connect. However, the extent to which these technologies enrich or undermine our future depends on the values and motivations of those who craft them.
The United States has been at the forefront of global innovation for more than a century. Our leadership in previous technological revolutions, from the steam engine to the internet, has served as a key foundation for our economic prosperity, geopolitical influence and national security.
But times are changing, and America’s position as the global leader in technology and innovation is no longer guaranteed. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is determined to become the world’s preeminent technological superpower by 2049, and it is investing trillions to achieve that goal.
More troubling than the progress and financial figures, however, is China’s approach to technology, which is deeply intertwined with its disturbing model of authoritarian governance.