US Congress Eyes Manhattan-Style Project to Lead AGI Development

The US Congress is considering establishing a large-scale research and development program to lead the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and address the growing technological competition from China, inspired by the iconic "Manhattan Project."

A report from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission highlights the need for an initiative akin to the World War II-led effort that resulted in the creation of the first nuclear weapons.

“The Manhattan Project demonstrated what our nation can achieve when we come together in the face of an existential challenge. Today, we need that same vision to lead in AI,” reads the report.

AGI stands apart from other AI systems by being capable of performing human-level or higher cognitive tasks across multiple fields. Its development could revolutionize sectors such as the economy, science, defense, and society. According to the report, the nation that masters this technology will gain a decisive strategic advantage in shaping the global balance of power in the 21st century, framing it not merely as a technological issue but as “a determinant of the geopolitical equilibrium.”

Key Program Details

The commission's report outlines specific recommendations for Congress to strengthen the United States' technological competitiveness and safeguard its economic and national security interests against various challenges posed by China.

“Under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continued to pursue a technology-focused strategy to drive rapid military modernization, expand internal political surveillance and suppression of dissent, and assert China’s political and economic agenda in the international arena,” reads the document.

Out of the 32 recommendations in the report, the commission highlights 10 priorities across multiple fronts for the United States to establish leadership in AGI:

1. Promoting AI Innovation
   Congress should enable multi-year contracts and funding for leading companies in AI, cloud computing, and data centers. Additionally, national priority should be given to AI ecosystem projects through the Department of Defense’s DX classification system.

2. Reforms in E-Commerce and Imports
   The report recommends eliminating the tariff exemption for goods valued at less than US$800 (Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930) to prevent the entry of minimally inspected products. It also calls for enhancing customs monitoring resources and capabilities.

3. Fiscal and Investment Restrictions on Chinese Companies
   Tax benefits for investments in Chinese companies linked to the military or listed by the Department of Commerce should be removed. This measure aims to discourage capital flows into sectors that could pose security risks.

4. Strengthening Export Controls
   Bolster the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) with more expert staff, advanced analytical tools, and interagency collaboration. Additionally, a task force should be established to evaluate and coordinate export controls to limit China’s access to advanced technologies.

5. Biotechnology Oversight
   Implement an approval and monitoring system for Chinese participation in US biotech companies, particularly in genomic research, pharmaceutical development, and genetic data analysis. Concurrently, federal investment in biotechnology should be increased across the entire development cycle.

6. Ban on Critical Chinese Technologies
   Restrict imports of advanced humanoid robots and energy infrastructure batteries with remote capabilities, given their potential national security implications.

7. Regulating Foreign Investments
   Establish an Office of External Investments to monitor and restrict US investments in strategic technology sectors in countries like China. This includes instituting a mandatory notification program to identify potential risks.

8. Consumer Product Safety
   Empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to mandate recalls of dangerous products from uncooperative Chinese sellers and classify Chinese platforms as accountable distributors under safety standards.

9. Trade Relations with China
   Revoke China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, reintroducing annual reviews of its trade practices to increase scrutiny of its unfair behaviors.

10. Assessing Chinese Conflict Preparations
    Conduct a comprehensive analysis of strategic indicators such as energy reserves, industrial production shifts, and national defense movements to anticipate potential conflicts.

China has made significant progress in AGI development, leveraging state investments, a unified national strategy, and access to vast amounts of data. The country has also capitalized on emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, to solidify its position. Although the US retains advantages in areas like semiconductors and AI models, the gap has narrowed over the past year.

“Looking forward to 2025, even as China’s economy falters, the CCP will continue to pursue its geopolitical ambitions, strengthen the Party-state, attempt to ‘sanctions proof’ its financial position, and reduce Western leverage in the event of a conflict,” reads the document.

The proposal has garnered significant support from the tech industry, with leaders like Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google, and Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI, emphasizing the importance of close collaboration between the government and the private sector to ensure the success of this technology.

In Congress, according to DPL News, the debate over the program’s feasibility and scope will be pivotal in the coming months. The report underscores the urgency to act, stating that “every day of delay means losing ground in a competition that will define the future.”

“The United States will need to strengthen work with allies and partners to build consensus domestically and internationally on the full range of policies needed to defend our shared interests and values from the threat posed by China and its partners as they seek to increase their power, extend their reach, and reshape global norms to reflect the interests of their authoritarian regimes,” reads the document.