Experts split on how to handle AI's role in US-China relations
A core question lies under every debate about the United States' relationship with the People's Republic of China: Are we truly adversaries?
This query underscores all discussions about the TikTok ban, tariffs, semiconductor manufacturing and the rise of DeepSeek. It also arose during a debate at Johns Hopkins University 's (JHU) primary campus in Baltimore last week that, on its face, aimed to explore whether stricter export regulation could help the US surpass China in AI development.
Instead of sticking to that specific topic, the moderated conversation between a quartet of economic, political and diplomatic experts took on the broader context of the two countries' often-contentious relationship.
The four experts appeared on Shriver Hall's stage for the second event in the Hopkins Forum, a series put together by JHU's SNF Agora Institute and the New York-based nonprofit Open to Debate.
Both organizations have connections to billionaire philanthropists; the Agora Institute's 'SNF' references the foundation of late Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, while Open To Debate was founded by the private equity and investment titan Robert Rosencranz, who still chairs its board.
The two entities' missions revolve around boosting democratic engagement through respectful dialogue across silos. Their priorities also manifest in the debate itself, as panelists brought up the US and China's respective roots in democracy and autocracy, as well as the role AI plays in how it gets deployed or commercialized.
The Hopkins Forum follows a debate structure with opening and closing statements, specific windows for responses and room for audience questions that Open to Debate uses in other events, which the organization then shares via social and public media. This debate came about three months after the first in the series, in which former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and three other speakers debated the future of the Supreme Court.
For this debate, the four panelists took the original question — 'can the US outpace China in AI through chip controls?' — and ran with a conversation. They touched on topics such as AI competition and collaboration between institutions in the two countries, their respective affiliations toward democracy or autocracy, how each government uses AI in surveillance and national security matters and the political status of Taiwan.
Here are key quotes from each speaker's statements.
Susan Thornton, a retired US Department of State official and senior fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. 'Making the AI competition with China a zero-sum game not only will not work — it is dangerous. We don't have to give China the cutting-edge chips; we did that back in 2019 with restrictions on [extreme ultraviolet] lithography technology. That was a move that was widely supported in the international community. It's an easy execution, easy implementation. Everyone agrees, and China accepts it, that they're not going to have the most cutting-edge technology chips. … We're the two leading AI powers. Everyone else in the world thinks we ought to be talking about [regulation], and I think we should focus on that instead of worrying about changing the chip controls every two weeks.'
Will Hurd, chief strategy officer of defense tech company CHAOS Industries, who was formerly a CIA officer, US congressman (R-TX) and OpenAI board member: 'This technology is evolving so fast, the next 35 years [are going to] make the last 35 years look like we were a bunch of monkeys playing in the dirt with sticks. And at that time, are we going to say, 'Did we do everything we can to make sure our way of life continued and was maintained?''
Paul Triolo, senior vice president for China and tech policy at the DGA-Albright Stoneridge Group: 'Both the Biden and the Trump administration have changed the goalposts in terms of the [export] controls, expanding the controls over the last two-and-a-half years, which has been really confusing to industry. It's disrupted global supply chains and it's disrupted critical technology relationships. And this comes with steep costs.'
Lindsay Gorman, senior fellow and managing director of the German Marshall Fund's technology program: 'This is about who controls the fundamental means of production of the next century. And in China, we have a coercive power — one that issues cyber attacks, that uses economic leverage when countries vote for a dissident to win a Nobel Peace Prize, or when they criticize the Chinese government. So the world that I'm imagining is one where someone speaks out against something the Chinese government has done, and their access to the new personalized medicine they're developing goes away.'
Check out the full debate below, and keep scrolling for some photo highlights from the event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Observer
18 hours ago
- Libya Observer
Greek FM to visit Libya amid maritime border dispute
Greece's Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, will travel to Libya on 1 July for talks focusing on contested maritime boundaries and rising migration across the Mediterranean, Greek newspaper Kathimerini has reported. A diplomatic source said Gerapetritis will visit both Tripoli and Benghazi and reiterate Athens' call for negotiations on maritime boundaries. The minister is also expected to raise the issue of irregular migration from Libyan shores, which has surged this year. The source said Greece was prepared to provide resources to help Libya combat the flow of migrants and disrupt human trafficking networks. The dispute between Greece and Libya centres on the status of islands including Strofades, Sapienza, Schiza, Gavdos and Chrisi, and their role in drawing maritime borders. Greece maintains these islands must be factored into any agreement. Libya disagrees, arguing that the islands have no effect on the boundaries. Relations between the two nations have been strained recently after Libya's Government of National Unity and its rival administration in the east opposed a Greek call for international oil and gas exploration licences in waters south of Crete. Tags: Greece
Libya Observer
a day ago
- Libya Observer
Libya's parallel government rejects Greece's drilling moves in the Mediterranean
The House of Representatives-designated government has declared its rejection of the actions taken by the Greek government regarding an international call for oil and gas exploration south of the island of Crete. The government, headed by Osama Hammad, affirmed that part of the targeted areas lies within a maritime zone that remains under an unresolved legal dispute with the State of Libya. Hammad's government called on Greece to immediately halt these actions and refrain from taking any unilateral steps, stressing the need for dialogue with Libya to reach fair solutions that safeguard sovereign rights. On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry of the Government of National Unity also expressed deep concern over the Greek authorities' announcement of bids for oil and gas exploration in maritime areas disputed with Libya. The ministry described the move as a blatant violation of Libya's sovereign rights and registered its full rejection and objection to any exploratory activities conducted without prior understanding with the Libyan side. It warned that unilateral approaches only serve to escalate tensions in the region and urged prioritizing dialogue and constructive negotiation as the sole option based on international law. Tags: Greece parallel Government
Libya Observer
3 days ago
- Libya Observer
Weekly News Roundup: Friday, June 20, 2025
Libya's Foreign Ministry protests Greek bid round for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete Mufti: Berlin Conference is a deception by Libya's enemies UN envoy: Hate speech threatens Libya's unity and stability Over 4,000 displaced in Sudan, nearly 1,000 flee to Libya amid border clashes National Center for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management warns of increasing desertification Aqilah Saleh discusses controversial 69 billion budget with Belqasim Haftar 158 migrants deported from Libya to Bangladesh with IOM support Orlando discusses with CBL Governor the need to contain inflation amid rising public spending Tunisian MPs urge reactivation of free trade zones with Libya Libya and Turkey discuss boosting oil and gas cooperation Summer heritage festival opens in Hun's Al-Qusayr district Al-Trabelsi: Overlapping jurisdictions have negatively impacted Interior Ministry's work in recent years Dbeibeh vows compensation for Abu Salim victims, launches key projects Italy sees rise in migration amid renewed Libya tensions HNEC urges submission of endorsements for municipal candidates Kufra sees surge in scorpion stings, health officials warn CBL, NOC hold talks to boost oil sector Electronic Payment Forum conducts scientific session on cybersecurity and data protection Libyan football league's championship round to be held in Italy for 2nd year in a row Audit Bureau reviews anti-corruption, public funds protection with UN Mission Review Team IOM: 6 immigrants dead, 60 missing in the Mediterranean within a week Sumood Convoy says 7 detained activists are released, hoping for return of the rest Tourist Police, Antiquities Department hold talks to boost heritage protection China eyes stronger economic role in post-conflict Libya Libya and Iran review regional tensions Saleh, Greek ambassador discuss path to ending political crisis 12 illegal migrants detained in Derna, one diagnosed with HIV Libya and United Nations discuss strengthening cooperation Ministry of Health participates in MENA Region 'One Health' Conference in Tunisia Tourist Police, Antiquities Department hold talks to boost heritage protection Ministry of Health participates in MENA Region 'One Health' Conference in Tunisia PC Deputy Heads: Interference by Libyan parties complicates chances for national consensus First group of Libyan pilgrims returns from Hajj Libya urges citizens in Iran to exercise caution UNSMIL launches country-wide youth consultations on political process House of Representatives rejects Libya's inclusion on US travel ban list -Sumood Convoy gives up drive to Gaza border and calls on Haftar's forces to release detainees Menfi warns of economic crisis, proposes to form state funds management authority -US surveillance aircraft monitor Libyan coast Libyan forces intercept 93 migrants UNSMIL calls on Libyans to share their opinions on crisis resolution proposals via online survey PC Vice President Al-Lafi discusses political developments with Italian ambassador Dabaiba praises Tuareg tribes for supporting national unity and stability NOC explores prospects with Germany's Everllence CBL Governor announces launching Libya's national financial inclusion strategy 2025-2029 After Haftar's forces tighten restrictions in Sirte; Sumood Convoy returns to Misrata Dbeibah presents his vision for Libya's political solution to UN evaluation delegation Hannibal Gaddafi on hunger strike to protest his continued detention Major fire controlled in farms in Bu Halima Village, Kufra Interior ministry holds high-level forum on security performance in Tripoli GNU vows to end armed factions and restore order 200,000 narcotic pills seized in Tobruk house Government agreement to return Libyan schools abroad to Ministry of Education Interior ministry holds high-level forum on security performance in Tripoli CBL launches e-payment forum to boost digital finance and banking reform Oil ministry attends key OPEC statistical meeting in Vienna Tags: news headlines
