Bipartisan bill aims to block Chinese AI from federal agencies

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation to ban Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) systems from use in federal agencies. This move comes amid growing concerns about the rising capabilities of Chinese AI firms, such as DeepSeek, which recently developed a competitive AI model at a low cost. At a hearing led by Rep. John Moolenaar, officials emphasized the strategic importance of AI in a new "Cold War" between the U.S. and China. Experts warned that AI systems reflect their origin societies—democracies or authoritarian regimes—and urged lawmakers to maintain strict controls on advanced chip exports. The proposed legislation, backed by members across both party lines, would prohibit AI technologies developed by foreign adversaries within the U.S. government, with certain exceptions for research and counterterrorism. The bill aims to bolster national security amid fears that Chinese AI technologies could pose significant threats. According to the 2025 AI Index Report from Stanford, while the U.S. currently leads in cutting-edge AI development, China is rapidly closing the gap and dominates in AI publications and patents.