Doug Burgum Warns AI Race Winner Will 'Control the World'
Doug Burgum, the soft-spoken Interior secretary responsible for managing the more than 507 million acres of federally owned land, is haunted by a fear that seems, at first glance, outside his mandate. He worries the free world will lose dominance in the field of artificial intelligence, and with it, the future.
So does the president.
'When President Trump declared a national emergency on his first day in office it was, in large part, because of what we're facing with our electrical grid and making sure that we've got enough power to be able to win the AI arms race with China,' Burgum said Wednesday in remarks first reported by RealClearPolitics. 'That is absolutely critical.'
Thus the stated policy of this White House: 'It's called drill, baby, drill,' Trump said earlier this spring.
The immediate goal, the one touted at every campaign, is to bring down the average price of a gallon of gas. The concurrent and long-term mission that Burgum obsesses over: AI dominance. The former governor from fracking-friendly North Dakota and tech entrepreneur who sold his software to Microsoft, Burgum laid out an abbreviated formula on stage at the America First Policy Institute.
Electricity generation via fossil fuels, like natural gas and coal, powers data centers 'filled with these amazing chips,' the secretary said, 'and you know what comes out the other side? Intelligence. A data center is literally manufacturing intelligence.' He envisioned a new world that follows, where the best computer programmer, or the most brilliant lawyers, could 'clone themselves' again and again to train AI models to do the work of thousands in a process 'that can be repeated indefinitely.'
No longer science fiction, the process has been headline news for some time. AI models like ChatGPT and X's Grok are already available in every home with an internet connection. And the U.S. was the undisputed leader. That is, until recently.
American tech companies enjoyed a clear edge with not just the most powerful AI models, the most funding, and top engineering talent, but also the easiest access to those 'amazing chips' that Burgum referenced. Former President Biden banned the export of the most advanced semiconductors to China. And yet DeepSeek, an unknown Chinese startup with less money and allegedly less sophisticated chips, still managed to one-up Silicon Valley earlier this year with a more powerful AI model.
The latest development in the battle for tech supremacy, in what some likened to 'a Sputnik moment,' the DeepSeek launch rattled both markets and geopolitics. A new kind of AI nationalism now consumes heads of state convinced that their nations must develop their own technology or fall behind in the future. Said Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2017 of AI, 'The one who becomes the leader in this sphere will be the ruler of the world.'
Burgum does not disagree. He would just prefer the West take on that role. 'Trust me, you do not want to be getting your data from a Chinese data center,' he told the crowd, adding that 'Whoever controls the manufacture of intelligence is going to control the world. The next five years is going to determine the next 50.'
This is the goal of the White House, including Vice President JD Vance, who once warned that falling behind on this front could mean that the U.S. meets China 'on the battlefield of the future' with the equivalent of digital 'muskets.'
Democrats on Capitol Hill are not thrilled. The day before, Maine Rep. Marie Pingree complained in the House Appropriations Committee that Burgum had gutted the department he leads and sought to slash Biden-era clean energy tax credits.
'In just four months, the department has been destabilized, and there's been a stunning decline in its ability to meet its mission,' she told Burgum. 'This disregards the climate change concerns that we have.'
The secretary replied that he was concerned with a more pressing order of operations. 'The existential threats that this administration is focusing on are Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon, and we can't lose the AI arms race to China,' Burgum said in committee. 'That's the number one and two. If we solve those two things, then we will have plenty of time to solve any issues related to potential temperature change.'
His immediate focus, then, is on how the U.S. can boost energy production. Burgum reported that industry leaders tell him electricity demand will soon outpace supply with astronomical numbers measured not in megawatts, but gigawatts. The power needed to run one data center, he said, would be equivalent to the electricity needs of Denver times 10.
Because AI has the potential to supercharge nearly every business, he said, 'the demand for this product is like nothing we've ever seen in our lives.'
Concluded the Interior secretary, 'The fundamental principles here again, as they say, we're going to sell energy to our friends and allies, and we're going to have enough energy here at home to be able to win the AI arms race. And this requires electricity.'
On this Burgum and Trump are simpatico. During the campaign, the president likened artificial intelligence to 'the oil of the future.'
Also read: Iran Issues Surprisingly Optimistic Statement After Latest US Nuclear Talks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
17 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Alarming Fox Report Says Tactical Nukes 'Not Off The Table' For Trump's Iran Response
The Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has reportedly informed American officials that destroying Iran's heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility might require the use of a nuclear weapon, based on The Guardian . Officials, briefed on the limitations of the GBU-57 — a 30,000-pound conventional bunker-buster bomb — are worried that even if President Trump give the order it may not be powerful enough to reach and destroy the deeply buried site. The report described that conventional bombs might have to be used to soften the terrain, followed by the dropping of a tactical nuclear weapon from a B-2 stealth bomber. The latest reporting has sought to clarify that President Trump is not considering the nuclear option, nor has it yet to be formally presented to him by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. From fresh 'anonymous' White House statement present contradictory information. So very quickly, here we are … there's prominent public discourse about the 'possibility' or eventual 'necessity' of a nuclear bomb. As the Quincy Institute's Eli Clifton observes: It's disturbing but not surprising how the entire Executive Branch communications apparatus can be activated into total war-hysteria mode seemingly overnight. Israel is urging the US under Trump to target Fordow with whatever it takes, given it lacks the capability to carry out such a strike. But at least it's 'comforting' that a tactical nuke is off the table, for now… or wait: 'none of the options are off the table' – a fresh FOX report claims, citing a senior White House official. Heinrich on Iran: An article stated that Trump was not considering a tactical nuke— that it was not one of the options that was presented to him. I was just told by a top official here that none of that report is true— that none of the options are off the table — Acyn (@Acyn) June 19, 2025 All this is premised on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Iran is in fact pursuing a nuclear weapon. Dangerously the White House seems to be siding with Israeli intelligence over the assessment of the US intelligence community, as presented by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who may have already been sidelined in White House Situation Room discussions. * * * The Publication Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists are meanwhile warning that it's possible that the Fordow enrichment facility could be destroyed and yet still it won't make the Iranian nuclear threat go away … If the Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear program, started on June 13, is to prove successful in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, then a necessary—but not sufficient—step will involve the elimination of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. At the Fordow plant, located near the city of Qom, the Iranians have enough centrifuges (including IR-6s, their more advanced type) and uranium hexafluoride gas to produce several nuclear weapons. They could probably produce enough weapon-grade (90 percent) enriched uranium for one nuclear weapon within five to six days. Perhaps more important, Fordow itself is a hardened facility, built within a mountain and protected from many forms of attack. It could—in theory—continue to operate even after other nuclear facilities in the country have been destroyed, with its material then fueling nuclear weapons to be produced clandestinely. If Israel decides to continue down the military path against Iran's nuclear program, it has no choice but to ensure that the Fordow enrichment plant no longer poses a threat.
Gulf Insider
17 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Will Arrive In Mideast Waters This Weekend
The USS Nimitz carrier strike group is en route to Middle East waters and is expected to arrive this weekend, a US official tells Fox news on Friday, after the carrier departed the South China Sea on Monday. This is the latest confirmation that the US Navy will now have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time. While reports previewed this movement earlier this week, making it no surprise, this is the first revelation of a more precise timeline. As for the prior reporting via military sources, Stars & Stripes stated, 'The aircraft carrier and its strike group left Bremerton, Wash., in March for the Indo-Pacific region for what is expected to be the ship's final deployment. Now, the Nimitz and the warships sailing with it will join the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Middle East, the defense official said. Currently, the USSCarl Vinson is already positioned in the Arabian Sea, while the Navy has also lately confirmed deployment of the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Mediterranean, presumably as 'back-up' – though that mission had long been shechuled. As for the Nimitz, itsis currently underway westbound from the Strait of Malacca. So this will place in total three carriers within reach of the Middle East theatre of operations. Stars & Stripes has recently offered the following background on the last week of the Iran-Israel aerial war: Each carrier strike group typically brings with it one attack submarine, one cruiser and two or more destroyers, in addition to an air wing of F/A-18 Super Hornets and (on some carriers) F-35 Lightning strike fighters. The overall package delivers a powerful land-attack punch, but also enhances regional air defense with a combination of anti-aircraft, anti-drone and anti-ballistic-missile capabilities. Two destroyers operating in Central Command have already been involved in defeating Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel over the past week, a Navy official told Norfolk's WAVY. USS The Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke both expended interceptors over the weekend to shoot down Iranian attacks, the official confirmed. President Trump conveyed via the White House Press Secretary on Thursday afternoon that he will make a decision on striking Iran within the next two weeks. Trump words and 'warning' to Tehran were as follows: 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.'
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Gulf Insider
US Resumes Student Visas With Stricter Social Media Vetting
The State Department announced new vetting requirements on June 18, including social media screening for all student visa applicants. 'The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,' the State Department said in a press release. While student visa interviews—previously paused as the government reviewed its visa policy—have resumed, applicants will now be expected to set their social media profiles to 'public' to allow screening by U.S. diplomatic officials. Failure to do so could be interpreted as an effort to hide certain online activity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that those who may cause trouble for the United States or its allies, including violence or harassment against certain ethnic groups or supporting designated terrorist groups, could have their student visa applications rejected. 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,' the State Department said. 'The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.' The development comes roughly three weeks after a senior State Department official confirmed to The Epoch Times that it had ordered American embassies worldwide to pause student visa interviews as the agency works to enhance its vetting process. In an internal cable signed by Rubio and leaked to the media on May 27, the agency said it was considering making strict social media vetting a requirement for all foreign students applying to study in the United States. On Wednesday, ahead of the announcement, The Epoch Times learned that student visa interviews had resumed with the new rules in place. Consular officers are also directed to review social media activity for signs of the applicant having possible disdain for the United States and its government, citizens, culture, founding principles, or institutions. These changes will affect any applicants for the student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas and are intended to bolster national security. When the State Department paused student visa interviews late last month, agency spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the Trump administration takes 'very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country.' 'We've always vetted people trying to come in. We've always looked at visas seriously,' she said. 'Whether they be students, or if you're a tourist who needs a visa, or whoever you are, we're going to be looking at you.' The very next day, Rubio announced that the United States would begin revoking visas for Chinese students, including any with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in 'critical fields.' In a short statement, the State Department confirmed that it would work with the Department of Homeland Security to 'aggressively revoke' the visas while revising visa criteria to 'enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications' from China and Hong Kong. The State Department has accused the Chinese regime of monitoring its students abroad and mobilizing them through the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. Some of that group's U.S. branches have openly admitted to being directed, supported, or financed by Chinese consulates.
