Tech leaders in Silicon Valley are seizing the opportunity presented by the escalating tech and economic cold war between the United States and China to push for their interests in the field of artificial intelligence (A.I.). As American lawmakers move to ban Chinese-owned app TikTok and reinforce their commitment to combat China’s tech dominance, more than 100 tech chiefs and investors are set to gather in Washington for a daylong conference and private dinner focused on drumming up support against China’s progress in A.I.
The event, known as the Hill & Valley Forum, will see tech executives lobbying against A.I. regulations they deem burdensome, while also advocating for increased government spending on A.I. technology and research. Additionally, they will push for relaxed immigration restrictions to attract more A.I. experts to the United States.
The gathering highlights a rare area of agreement between Washington and Silicon Valley, which have historically clashed on issues like data privacy and online protections. With the rise of generative A.I. technology that could revolutionize productivity and innovation, lobbying efforts in the A.I. sector have surged, with companies like Palantir doubling their spending on lobbying last year.
However, as tech leaders capitalize on anti-China sentiments in Washington, concerns have been raised by civil society groups and academics about the potential negative impacts of the U.S.-China tech competition. Debates over tech leadership could hinder efforts to regulate A.I. tools that may pose risks such as job displacement, disinformation, and election interference.
Despite China lagging behind the U.S. in generative A.I., experts warn that the focus on competition could overshadow the need for responsible regulation. The event, organized by a senior adviser to Palantir and a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, will also feature discussions on banning TikTok and the space race between the U.S. and China.
With venture capitalists and tech leaders emphasizing the need to treat China as an adversary, the forum underscores the growing tensions in the tech world and the push for American dominance in the field of artificial intelligence.
