Competition with China in AI Sparks Internal Rift at the White House
Before the U.S. can fully catch up with China in artificial intelligence, a political drama of internal conflict has already unfolded at the White House.
On the 8th, the U.S. website "Politico" cited multiple informed sources stating that despite repeated claims by the Trump administration that China must not gain dominance in the field of artificial intelligence, American AI companies remain deeply pessimistic—owing to ongoing disputes within the White House over the regulation of AI technologies.
One insider complained: "Different factions inside the White House hold conflicting views on what should be done next. They haven't convened experts for discussion. This has not only intensified anxiety within the AI policy arena but also hindered the formulation of effective policies. The outside world simply cannot figure out what exactly the White House is doing."
From the perspective of U.S. media reports, this dispute is likely tied to tensions between the Silicon Valley right-wing forces behind Trump and the establishment officials within the government cabinet.
Trump’s return to the White House was significantly aided by Silicon Valley right-wing capital represented by figures such as Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. These right-wing tech elites are largely "techno-optimists" who advocate for substantial relaxation of legal and ethical regulations on cutting-edge technologies (Democrats’ reluctance to loosen oversight is precisely why the Silicon Valley right chose to back Trump), and Trump himself clearly pledged to push for regulatory easing at the time.
However, traditional establishment figures within the Republican Party, while also favoring reduced regulation to compete with China in relevant fields, are constrained by the inherent caution of bureaucratic systems and concerns about potential technological失控 (loss of control). As such, they oppose unfettered, unconditional deregulation—making conflict between the two sides inevitable.
An informed source lamented: "Until Trump makes his final decision, the warring parties are unlikely to reach consensus. Ultimately, the outcome of this internal struggle will depend on who holds greater influence over Trump."
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864798067172352/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.