Governments used to lead innovation. On AI, they’re falling behind.

At the same time, American lawmakers are considering pouring billions of dollars into AI development amid concerns of competition with China. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is leading efforts in Congress to develop AI legislation, said legislators are discussing the need for a minimum of $32 billion in funding.

For now, the United States is siding with cautious action. Tech companies, said Paul Scharre, executive vice president of the Center for New American Security, are not necessarily loved in Washington by Republicans or Democrats. And President Biden’s recent executive order marked a notable shift from more laissez faire policies on tech companies in the past.

“I’ve heard some people make the arguments the government just needs to sit back and just trust these companies and that the government doesn’t have the technical experience to regulate this technology,” Scharre said. “I think that’s a receipt for disaster. These companies aren’t accountable to the general public. Governments are.”

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