Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) opened a joint roundtable discussing 'Artificial Intelligence and American Power: Leadership, Security, and Prosperity.' He underscored the critical need to address current gaps and vulnerabilities in American AI leadership, highlighting the profound potential of AI to transform crucial industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and defense. Burlison further stressed that growing robust U.S. AI capabilities is essential to spur American economic growth, urging policymakers and leaders to fully embrace and champion its development and widespread integration.
Chairman Burlison's Opening Remarks on AI Leadership
Subcommittee Chairman Burlison welcomed attendees to the joint roundtable, emphasizing that the discussion would focus on global AI competition and the imperative for America to lead in this defining economic and national security competition of the 21st century. Drawing from his extensive background as a software engineer and technology professional, Burlison highlighted how rapidly technology reshapes industries, economies, and lives, noting AI's accelerating pace. He underscored that the nations which first integrate and master AI will secure significant economic and military advantages, and the country dominating this competition will largely dictate global tech and AI rules for generations. Burlison pointed to China's explicit ambitions, citing their 2017 national AI development plan aiming to make them the world’s primary AI innovation center by 2030. He warned that Chinese AI models are being embedded into global infrastructure, telecommunications, financial systems, and governments of developing nations, creating vulnerabilities that adversaries are keen to exploit. Economists predict AI could add tens of trillions of dollars to global GDP over the next decade, transforming industries like manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and defense, and profoundly impacting American workers and small businesses. Burlison asserted that the United States cannot afford to import these technologies on terms set by others. He lauded President Trump's administration for revoking excessive regulatory constraints on AI development and launching the Stargate Initiative, a public-private effort to accelerate the construction of AI infrastructure, data centers, power generation, and computing capacity on American soil, creating American jobs. The administration is also facilitating access for trusted allies to American AI technology, a key advantage. Burlison concluded by expressing deep belief in American ingenuity and innovation, but stressed that AI dominance requires leaders committed to American competitiveness over regulation, ensuring broad benefits from AI's growth for businesses, workers, and communities.
Roundtable Guests and Their Expertise
The roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and American Prosperity featured a distinguished panel of experts from diverse fields:
* **Dr. Robert D. Atkinson:** As the President of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, Dr. Atkinson is highly regarded as one of the most influential thinkers on innovation and a leading voice in information technology.
* **Mr. Bark Beall:** Serving as the President of Government Affairs at the AI Policy Framework, Mr. Beall brought invaluable experience from his role as the inaugural Pentagon AI Policy Director at the DoD Joint AI Center. He is also a co-author of a critical report on frontier AI risks for the State Department and a frequent commentator on AI policy.
* **Mr. Charles Crain:** The Managing Vice President of Policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, Mr. Crain's background includes work on financial services, tax, and health care issues at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and a career start on Capitol Hill.
* **Mr. Kevin Czinger:** Founder & Executive Chairman of Divergent Technologies, Mr. Czinger leads an advanced manufacturing startup renowned for developing the world’s first end-to-end digital manufacturing platform, which revolutionizes rapid design, additive manufacturing, and automated assembly for defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors.
* **Mr. Jahmy Hindman:** As Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of John Deere, Mr. Hindman is responsible for creating Deere’s 'tech stack,' an integrated solution encompassing hardware, embedded software, connectivity, data platforms, and applications for equipment.
* **Dr. Chris Mattmann:** The Chief Data and AI Officer for the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Mattmann holds the first position of its kind in the UC system. His extensive career includes 24 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he managed the Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Innovative Development Organization, establishing him as an internationally recognized expert in data science, cybersecurity, and AI across various scientific and industrial domains.
* **Professor Spencer Overton:** A Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School, Professor Overton directs GW Law’s Multiracial Democracy Project and previously served in the Obama Administration as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy at the Department of Justice.
