A US congressional commission has proposed a Manhattan Project-style initiative to fund the development of artificial intelligence systems that match or exceed human intelligence. This move comes amid escalating competition with China over advanced technologies.
The bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI) but did not specify investment strategies in its annual report.
Jacob Helberg, a commissioner, emphasized the historical significance of being the first to harness technological change, stating, 'China is racing towards AGI ... It's critical that we take them extremely seriously.'
Helberg pointed out that energy infrastructure is a major bottleneck for training large AI models and suggested that streamlining the permitting process for data centers could enhance AI development through public-private collaboration.
OpenAI, known for its ChatGPT, has also advocated for increased government funding for AI initiatives. The USCC's recommendations aim to guide lawmakers on economic and strategic competition with China.
Other key recommendations include repealing the de minimis trade exemption for Chinese goods and tightening regulations on Chinese involvement in US biotechnology companies.