Vance downplays AI fears: Heritage Foundation warns against regulation

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Warnings from some of America’s top artificial intelligence leaders that the technology is advancing too quickly. The warnings drew a swift response from Beijing this weekend, with China dismissing the concerns as fear-mongering and signaling it does not plan to slow down.

Bret Swanson, director of the Center for Technology and the Human Person at the Heritage Foundation, told The National News Desk that a voluntary slowdown by the United States would benefit an adversary if China continues pushing forward. (TNND)

The debate comes as artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes the economy, the military balance and daily life, raising questions in Washington about how to address potential risks without allowing the United States to fall behind.

“This is the biggest economic and technological event in recent history,” Swanson said. “Maybe it will turn out to be in all of history.”

Vice President J.D. Vance addressed public concerns about AI on Monday, saying, “Well, look, any technology has risks. Any new technology is going to be bring both risks and benefits.” Vance added, “I don’t think Americans should be scared of anything,” while emphasizing that the country should remain mindful of potential downsides.

Swanson said Vance’s comments were “well put,” and cautioned against “some sort of, you know, bureaucratic, heavy-handed new set of regulations that should that could squash this huge economic engine.”

While acknowledging risks, Swanson said he believes they can be managed without what he described as panic-driven policy.

“I think the way not to handle it is to panic people with these sort of very scary stories saying that we need regulation now or we need to stop it now or pause now,” he said.

Swanson said AI is already boosting the U.S. economy and pointed to massive investment in computing infrastructure.

“We’re investing 6 to $7 trillion over the next five years in AI compute,” he said, adding that the buildout is providing “millions of jobs both to high-tech and blue-collar workers.”

Swanson also warned about what he described as the dangers of a centralized approach to AI governance, arguing that the biggest risk could come if “big AI and big government sort of merge and collaborate.” He said a competitive landscape with “multiple providers” is a better way to serve consumers and businesses while also mitigating risks.

He also argued that AI’s power could be used defensively. “I often say we can use a good AI to defeat bad AI,” Swanson said.