Guthrie requests investigation of ‘campaigns working to slow American AI progress’

WASHINGTON – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) is among officials requesting an investigation into alleged “foreign influence campaigns working to slow American AI progress,” according to a release.

According to the Office of Congressman Brett Guthrie, on June 4, Guthrie, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, made the request alongside Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy.

The release states officials sent a letter to the co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel asking for information about alleged evidence “that strongly suggests there are foreign influence campaigns working to slow American AI progress and block the development of the infrastructure we need to power it.”

The information follows after states and local communities look to potential pauses and moratoriums on data center construction.

“Our nation is locked in a race with China to innovate and lead the world in the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies. The fact that Chinese Communist Party-backed entities and other foreign adversaries may be attempting to influence decisions related to American data center infrastructure puts into perspective how serious of a fight we are in. Americans deserve to know who is bankrolling the disinformation campaign that seeks to block critical infrastructure investments,” Guthrie said. “Data centers are the foundational computing structure that makes modern life possible. From financial and medical records that underpin the economy and personal health care to the photos and emails on our phones to the critical infrastructure that keeps the electricity flowing to homes and businesses, so much of what we take for granted in our daily digital lives relies on the data center infrastructure across the country. Our adversaries in Beijing fundamentally understand this, and that’s why our Committee is working to address this critical issue.”

Data center development has been a large topic of discussion in local communities, such as Simpson County, Cave City, Bowling Green, Allen County and Edmonson County.

To read the full letter, click here.