Duval Times

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical area of competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Beijing has been actively promoting its AI components and software to Western companies, aiming to integrate its products into the global economy.

This strategy, if successful, could enable China to gather intelligence and steal valuable intellectual property from countries that oppose its objectives. The United States and its government contractors face significant national security risks by using Chinese AI products and services.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), and John Barrasso (R-WY) have introduced the Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions Act. This legislation aims to prohibit the U.S. government and private entities it contracts with from procuring or using adversarial AI.

“America isn’t ready for the era of AI national security threats. How we navigate this terrain will profoundly shape the next few decades. Communist China’s heavy investment in AI poses a serious national security threat, and the United States must have a plan to keep our nation safe on this front. My Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions Act would ensure the federal government and its private sector contractors aren’t using AI designed by China, Russia, or other adversaries,” said Senator Rubio.

“It is no secret that Communist China is working to destroy America and our way of life – and Xi will use any tool necessary, including AI, to do it. The threats posed by Chinese tech are a massive economic security vulnerability and national security threat for the United States, and as our armed forces train to continue to be the most lethal fighting force on the planet, aggressive action needs to be taken to prevent critical data from being stolen or our systems from being tainted by adversaries. We must stop the federal government from jeopardizing our security by using technology that is linked back to our adversaries, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill,” stated Senator Scott.

“The United States is facing an intense global competition around artificial intelligence (AI). Bad actors like Russia and China are finding new ways to influence U.S. policy through AI to advance their military and economic strength across the world. The federal government cannot fall into the traps of our enemies. We cannot afford for the Chinese Communist Party or any adversary to get their hands on our valuable research and technology. Our bill will make sure the United States and private sector companies are not using AI that threatens our national security,” commented Senator Barrasso.

The legislation specifically includes:

- Prohibiting the U.S. government and private entities it contracts with from procuring or using adversarial AI products and services.

- Tasking the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, in coordination with the Federal Acquisitions Security Council, with compiling and updating a list of AI products and services from countries of concern including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria.

- Giving companies contracting with the U.S. government two years to divest from products on this list.