From The Conversation · Stephen Collins · · 2m
Trump's AI gamble could backfire against China
The president argues deregulation keeps America ahead, but experts say it actually helps Beijing catch up faster.
In brief
The president argues deregulation keeps America ahead, but experts say it actually helps Beijing catch up faster. Slowing US AI development through regulation would also slow China's progress, since Chinese firms rely on copying American advances. Originally reported by The Conversation.
Trump says deregulation wins AI
The president argues that robust regulations threaten US national interests by enabling China to seize the advantage. He rejected any global scheme to control artificial intelligence.
“Whoever wins AI, WINS!”
But unregulated AI is risky
Eight in ten Americans support stronger AI regulations. Unchecked growth threatens US security through cyberattacks, weapons development, and potential existential risks like AI-induced nuclear launches.
Foreign actors already exploit AI
Anthropic revealed that actors from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea used Claude to conduct cyberattacks, disinformation, espionage and weapons development. Google detected similar attempts with its Gemini model.
US still leads in AI power
American firms lead in advanced models, computer chips, and computing power. But China has one advantage: massive electric power generation capacity, which AI systems consume heavily.
China copies US progress
Chinese firms use distillation to exploit cutting-edge US AI models and train their own nearly-as-powerful versions more efficiently. China's AI progress is tightly linked to US progress.
Slowing US helps China too
If the US eases on AI development, China will be forced to slow down as well, since it depends on copying American advances. Racing ahead unchecked won't widen the US lead.
Regulation could strengthen security
US regulations slowing AI advancement would also slow China's access to cutting-edge AI, strengthening American security rather than jeopardizing it.
China already regulates AI
Beijing imposed major AI regulations as far back as 2021. Chinese officials have repeatedly called for greater domestic and international AI oversight in recent months.
Xi wants global AI rules
At the 2026 World AI Conference, Xi Jinping urgently expressed the need for strong AI regulations. China's UN representative called for a consensus-based global governance framework for AI.
Common ground on AI safety
Beijing frames unregulated AI as a common threat, not a race. This opens the door for Washington and Beijing to reach agreement on AI governance and regulation.
The main idea
Slowing US AI development through regulation would also slow China's progress, since Chinese firms rely on copying American advances.
