NE Washington News

Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, opened a hearing focused on the future of AI technology and its implications for American global competitiveness. This hearing stems from a Library of Congress event featuring Dr. Schmidt, based on his book "Genesis," co-authored with Henry Kissinger. Congressman Guthrie emphasized that "this hearing came from a Library of Congress presentation that Dr. Schmidt held on his book 'Genesis', that he wrote with Henry Kissinger, Henry Kissinger’s last book."

Guthrie aims to spread awareness and stimulate discussion across the entire Committee on Energy and Commerce, noting that the subject of AI spans multiple domains, including telecom, privacy, and healthcare. "I walked away, thinking we needed to have the entire Congress hear your presentation."

Highlighting the strategic importance of AI, Guthrie stated, "it's the US versus China. And who will win the war for AI? Essentially, this is as important as the dollar being the reserve currency in the world."

He expressed a desire to create a stable regulatory framework, saying, "People who invest tell me it’s tough to invest based on congressional cycles or presidential cycles when the rules are going to change every two to four years." Guthrie is pushing for a consensus on energy policy and regulatory measures that can facilitate innovation while protecting the environment.

He cited the substantial power needs of AI operations, such as "a Microsoft data center can use as much power as the city of Seattle," to stress the importance of energy considerations. Privacy protection, especially concerning children's safety, is also a key regulatory goal.

Guthrie expressed concerns about international competition, noting "China has specifically said they are going to win the war on AI." He emphasized the necessity for collaboration within the committee to establish a favorable environment for American innovation, concluding with, "So, if this committee gets it right, America will win."

The hearing serves as a call to action for bipartisan cooperation to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI technological advancements, countering efforts from competitive nations like China.