AI and America: Not a Winner It Seems
October 13, 2025
This essay is the work of a dumb dinobaby. No smart software required.
Los Alamos National Laboratory perceives itself as one of the world’s leading science and research facilities. Jason Pruet is the Director of Los Alamos’s National Security AI Office and he was interviewed in “Q&A With Jason Pruet.” Pruet’s job is to prepare the laboratory for AI integration. He used to view AI as another tool for advancement, but Pruet now believes AI would disrupt the fundamental landscape of science, security, and more.
In the interview, Pruet states that the US government invested more in AI than any time in the past. He compared this investment to the World War II paradigm of science for the public good. Pruet explained that before the war, the US government wasn’t involved with science. After the war, Los Alamos shifted the dynamic and shaped modern America’s dedication to science, engineering, etc.
One of the biggest advances in AI technology is transformer architecture that allows huge progress to scale AI models, especially for mixing different information types. Pruet said that China is treating AI like a general purpose technology (i.e electricity) and they’ve launched a National AI strategy. The recent advances in AI are changing power structures. It’s turning into a new international arms race but that might not be the best metaphor:
“[Pruet:] All that said, I’m increasingly uncomfortable viewing this through the lens of a traditional arms race. Many thoughtful and respected people have emphasized that AI poses enormous risks for humanity. There are credible reports that China’s leadership has come to the same view, and that internally, they are trying to better balance the potential risks rather than recklessly seek advantage. It may be that the only path for managing these risks involves new kinds of international collaborations and agreements.”
Then Pruet had this to say about the state of the US’s AI development:
“Like we’re behind. The ability to use machines for general-purpose reasoning represents a seminal advance with enormous consequences. This will accelerate progress in science and technology and expand the frontiers of knowledge. It could also pose disruptions to national security paradigms, educational systems, energy, and other foundational aspects of our society. As with other powerful general-purpose technologies, making this transition will depend on creating the right ecosystem. To do that, we will need new kinds of partnerships with industry and universities.”
The sentiment seems to be focused on going faster and farther than any other country in the AI game. With the circular deals OpenAI has been crafting, AI seems to be more about financial innovation than technical innovation.
Whitney Grace, October 13, 2025
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