China's rapid progress in artificial intelligence has become a growing concern for US lawmakers. Congressional leaders argue that Beijing may be advancing its AI capabilities by relying on stolen technology instead of original innovation. They warned that such practices could threaten both American technology companies and US national security.

John Moolenaar Says China Relies on Technology Theft

Committee Chairman John Moolenaar said China's AI development depends more on theft than innovation. He argued that China's actions pose a serious risk to US technology firms and could weaken America's national security.

Moolenaar also said Congress will continue working on stricter export controls for advanced AI technologies. He added that lawmakers want to close loopholes that could allow China to gain access to cutting-edge American AI systems and related technologies.

Experts Say China's AI Progress Is Difficult to Measure

Former Pentagon AI official Jared Dunnmon said it is difficult to determine how much of China's AI progress comes from copying existing technology and how much results from genuine research. He said the debate should not focus only on whether China has better AI than the United States. Instead, Dunnmon believes the bigger concern lies elsewhere.

Cheaper Chinese AI Could Challenge US Companies

Dunnmon warned that Chinese companies may be able to build AI systems that perform almost as well as American models while selling them at much lower prices. He said this price advantage could encourage businesses and software developers around the world to choose Chinese AI platforms instead of American ones. Lower costs could make Chinese AI products more attractive, especially for companies looking for affordable alternatives.

US AI Leadership Faces Growing Competition

Experts believe the rise of lower-cost Chinese AI could create long-term challenges for the US technology industry. If more businesses adopt Chinese AI platforms, American AI companies could lose market share and revenue.

Analysts also warned that such a shift could gradually weaken the United States' leadership in the global artificial intelligence race, increasing competition in one of the world's fastest-growing technology sectors.