Sam Altman: Who Will Control the Future of Artificial Intelligence?

Sam Altman believes that we are facing a strategic choice: whether the future of AI will be dominated by the democratic vision promoted by the United States and its allies, or controlled by authoritarian states that do not share American values. To ensure the democratic vision prevails, Altman proposes four key strategies: strengthening security measures, developing infrastructure, formulating AI business diplomacy policies, and establishing a global AI governance mechanism. He emphasizes the urgency of action, noting that although the United States currently leads in the field of AI, this leading position is not permanent. The article calls for the United States and its allies to take immediate action to ensure that the development of AI technology can maximize its benefits while minimizing risks, thus creating a more democratic world.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence brings significant strategic choices. The United States is currently in a leading position in the development of artificial intelligence, but faces challenges. Authoritarian governments around the world are investing funds to catch up, such as Russia and China, which also have related goals.

The United States public and technology sectors need to do four major things to ensure that the democratic vision of artificial intelligence shapes the world.

American AI companies and industries need to establish strong security measures, including innovation in cyber defense and data center security, to prevent the theft of key intellectual property. The government and the private sector can cooperate to formulate these measures.
Infrastructure is the fate of artificial intelligence. American policymakers should work with the private sector to build a large amount of physical infrastructure that runs AI systems, create new job opportunities, and AI can become a new industrial base.
Formulate a coherent AI business diplomacy policy, clarify export control and foreign investment rules, formulate rules for the placement of data centers, and ensure that developers can access open-source models, export technology and values.
Think creatively about establishing a new model for AI norms, focusing on security issues, allowing countries in the global south to play a role, and referring to models such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or ICANN, to ensure that democratic AI takes the lead, because the American political system empowers companies, entrepreneurs, and scholars to research, innovate, and build. We must strive to ensure the realization of the democratic vision of artificial intelligence and formulate an AI strategy that helps achieve this goal.