Alphabet Inc President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat stated that the US isn’t guaranteed to maintain its lead over China in AI development. In a Bloomberg interview at the World Economic Forum, Porat said the U.S. is “probably a year plus ahead in models” and the “West is ahead in chips,” but China is “on par and may even be a bit ahead on what’s called diffusion of basic capabilities.”
Her comments come amid escalating geopolitical tensions and U.S. efforts to restrict China’s access to advanced AI chips and chipmaking technology. Porat noted that some heads of state, while preferring to work with the U.S. on digital transformation, are prepared to proceed “in the absence of the U.S.”
Porat advocated for “bold and responsible” international AI regulations, warning that a “patchwork quilt” of differing regulations would impede investment. Regulation “needs to be aligned across geographies. If you have a patchwork quilt that is going to impede investment, I’m not going to want to invest,” she said.
Google, having invested heavily in AI through Google DeepMind and recently debuting Gemini 2.0, faces pressure to maintain its position in search against competition from OpenAI and others. The company is also dealing with U.S. antitrust scrutiny, including a Justice Department push for the divestiture of its Chrome browser. Porat said such a remedy “makes no sense.”
Her remarks follow similar warnings from Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai about the potential consequences of antitrust actions for U.S. tech leadership.
The change in presidential administrations and associated policies regarding AI regulation also presents a shift. An earlier executive order focusing on safety and transparency requirements for AI developers has been rescinded, with expectations for a less interventionist approach from the new administration.