Why Eric Schmidt Says the U.S. Must ‘Do Whatever It Takes’ to Lead AI

Lead: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said AI technologies should be invented in the United States or at least the West, not China.

Speaking at Politico’s AI Summit, Schmidt emphasized that the United States must “do whatever it takes” to beat China in the artificial‑intelligence race.

He argued that the U.S. lacks a national “whatever‑it‑takes” principle to drive and dominate global AI development and called for a comprehensive AI national strategy.

Schmidt, who led Google from 2001 to 2011 and now chairs the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, warned that China is gaining “command” of AI, using it for military power and “high‑tech authoritarianism.”

He advocated for cooperation with other democracies such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel to shape AI ethical guidelines that protect human values.

Schmidt noted that China’s size and talent pool make it impossible for the United States to compete alone, and that the AI commission, created in 2019, submits quarterly reports to Congress with bipartisan support, including from former President Donald Trump.