OpenAI & Google Push US Government to Secure AI Leadership

Why OpenAI & Google Are Calling for Immediate AI Action

Tech giants OpenAI and Google are urging the US government to take decisive steps to secure the country’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). Both companies have issued strong warnings that America’s AI dominance is at risk, particularly as China aims to overtake the US by 2030.

In a letter to the Office of Science and Technology Policy, OpenAI highlighted the urgent need for action, stating:

“As America’s world-leading AI sector approaches AGI, with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) determined to overtake us by 2030, the Trump Administration’s new AI Action Plan can ensure that American-led AI built on democratic principles continues to prevail over CCP-built autocratic, authoritarian AI.”

Similarly, Google emphasized that while the US currently leads in AI development, this position is far from guaranteed.

The AI Action Plan: What’s at Stake?

OpenAI’s Vision for the Future

OpenAI believes AI can revolutionize society, comparing its potential impact to past groundbreaking innovations like the printing press, the domestication of horses, and the advent of computers. CEO Sam Altman has described AI as being on the “doorstep of the next leap in prosperity.”

The company is advocating for “freedom of intelligence,” promoting open access to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) while ensuring it remains protected from authoritarian influence and excessive regulations.

OpenAI outlined three key principles for AI growth:

1. AI intelligence scales with resources – The smarter the AI, the more resources it requires.
2. AI becomes more affordable over time – The cost of using AI capabilities drops by 10x every year.
3. AI improvement speeds up – The time required to develop more powerful AI models is shrinking.

Google’s Three-Point AI Strategy

Google also laid out a structured plan, urging the US government to:

1. Invest in AI – Address energy needs for AI infrastructure, maintain export controls, and fund AI research.
2. Modernize AI Adoption in Government – Promote AI adoption in public services, ensure interoperability, and streamline AI procurement processes.
3. Lead AI Innovation on a Global Scale – Support international AI policies that encourage innovation, tackle national security risks, and remove AI trade barriers.

AI Policy Recommendations: What OpenAI & Google Want

Both companies proposed specific policy recommendations to the US government, urging action in multiple areas:

OpenAI’s Key Recommendations

• Encourage Innovation – Foster AI growth through voluntary partnerships between the federal government and private companies.
• Maintain AI Leadership – Develop export control strategies to promote global adoption of American AI while keeping the US ahead.
• Protect Copyrights & AI Learning – Strike a balance between content creator rights and AI training capabilities.
• Develop AI-Ready Infrastructure – Build a strong AI workforce and ecosystem to support research labs, startups, and enterprises.
• Adopt AI in Government – Set an example by integrating AI into public services to improve citizen benefits.

Google’s Key Recommendations

• Energy & Infrastructure – Implement policies that ensure AI data centers have enough energy supply.
• Balanced Export Controls – Support AI market expansion while managing security risks.
• Accelerate AI R&D – Improve access to computing resources and strengthen public-private partnerships.
• Pro-Innovation AI Regulations – Prevent conflicting state laws, provide fair access to data, and promote sector-specific AI governance.

Why America’s AI Leadership Is at Risk

Both OpenAI and Google stress that America’s AI leadership is narrowing. Without swift action, the US risks falling behind in the global AI race. Google’s statement underlines the urgency:

“We are in a global AI competition, and policy decisions will determine the outcome. A pro-innovation approach that protects national security and ensures that everyone benefits from AI is essential to realising AI’s transformative potential and ensuring that America’s lead endures.”

With China aggressively advancing its AI capabilities, American companies believe the time to act is now.

What’s Next for AI Policy in the US?

As AI continues to evolve, policymakers will need to strike a balance between regulation, innovation, and security. The coming months will be crucial in shaping the future of AI leadership.

Will the US take decisive action to stay ahead in the AI race? That remains to be seen.