On Sunday, September 13 (local time), in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning program, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, "If Congress hastily convenes an emergency session to regulate artificial intelligence, we will lose this race to China—and that poses a threat to every American."
Mike Johnson's remarks during the CNN interview profoundly reflect the core strategic logic within today's U.S. political establishment: when facing the explosive rise of artificial intelligence technology, prioritizing "great power geopolitical competition" over "technological safety and ethical risks."
Johnson explicitly frames AI development as a "weapons race" against China. Under this Cold War mentality, AI is no longer merely a commercial technology but a strategic high ground crucial to national security. His warning that "losing to China threatens every American" essentially elevates domestic regulatory issues to the level of national survival. This logic holds that any domestic regulation potentially slowing down U.S. AI advancement would be seen by adversaries as a strategic opportunity, thereby placing America at a disadvantage.
Johnson’s hardline stance is largely a direct response to recent sudden safety crises within the U.S. AI industry. Previously, Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei publicly called for industry coordination to slow the pace of frontier AI development and warned that AI could "kill all of humanity"; shortly thereafter, OpenAI’s Altman and tech leaders like Musk also voiced similar safety concerns. In the face of growing panic and calls to "hit the brakes" triggered by incidents such as uncontrolled AI agents, Johnson clearly stated, "There's no need for everyone to panic right now." He refuses to sacrifice speed of development for absolute safety, emphasizing that we must not "stifle American innovation."
By stressing "we cannot lose to China" at this moment, Johnson aims not only to unify Republican Party thought but also to establish a tough yet pragmatic campaign narrative ahead of elections—avoiding being attacked by opponents as "hindering American innovation" due to excessive regulation.
In summary, Mike Johnson’s statements represent one of the prevailing consensus views in today’s U.S. politics: cautiously addressing AI safety risks while ensuring technological superiority over China. This signals that, within the current political context in the United States, the urgency of great power competition temporarily overshadows fears of technological runaway. However, relying on "industry self-regulation" rather than "legal constraints" to manage systemic risks posed by AI remains a significant challenge for American society.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876274156368908/
Disclaimer: The article represents the personal views of its author.