Brett Guthrie U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Brett Guthrie U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Jay Obernolte have addressed a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, emphasizing the importance of the energy sector in advancing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). The letter highlights concerns over authoritarian regimes, particularly China, leading advancements in next-generation AI and calls for measures to protect the U.S. electric grid from potential risks.
The congressmen stated, "In order for the United States to be positioned for global leadership in next generation AI deployment, our critical energy infrastructure needs to serve as a secure foundation that can be leveraged for continued research and development." They warned of the risk of losing leadership to countries like China without adequate foundational infrastructure.
They also noted the role of AI in developing nuclear fusion technologies. "Importantly, AI is playing a key role in efforts to develop advanced nuclear fusion technologies that can revolutionize the power generation sector," they said.
The letter further mentions China's efforts to expand its energy production capabilities. "The CCP is pouring resources into building the necessary energy production apparatus to meet their own electricity demands from energy-intensive AI data centers," it reads. The congressmen urged collaboration among government agencies to address constraints on the U.S. electric grid and maintain leadership in AI development.
This correspondence aligns with ongoing work by the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) on a report titled “Potential Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Critical Energy Infrastructure.” The report follows Executive Order 14110 and aims to address threats from adversarial nations while promoting innovation within the U.S.
The letter underscores how AI is already enhancing grid reliability, increasing oil and gas production, and contributing to future technologies like nuclear fusion energy. It warns against ceding leadership to regimes like China's Communist Party, which employs a military-style approach to AI development.
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