Politics
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso is calling on President Biden’s Energy Department to end artificial intelligence research collaborations with people linked to the Chinese state, according to a copy of a letter he sent to the agency on Monday. was sent
Barrasso, 71, criticized Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for her department’s “recklessly foolish” engagement with people and entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), particularly Beijing’s “global AI race.” In” looking at the use of available US research
“DOE should implement a robust vetting process for those wishing to access and work with DOE-created AI Foundation models,” Barrasso said in his letter. “It is very important that people who are friends with the CCP do not gain access.”
Barrasso cited a March 21 National Science Foundation report that cast doubt on the “benefits of cooperation” with Chinese research organizations, citing Beijing’s “prioritization of basic research toward military needs.” efforts to direct, and its decision to limit the flow of information”. of the country.”
Earlier this month, a Chinese national was federally indicted for stealing confidential files about Google’s artificial intelligence technology while working as a software engineer at the company.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said the charges were “the latest example of the lengths to which affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China have been willing to steal American innovation,” which had “devastating economic and national security implications.” Consequences” may occur.
In its FY 2025 budget request, the Energy Department’s Office of the Inspector General also pointed to a lack of funding to monitor the department’s “high-risk areas,” including intellectual property theft and its ” Expanding Artificial Intelligence Program”.
The Wyoming senator has criticized other U.S. taxpayer-funded work with China on climate issues and pointed to “significant concerns” about “the state of counterintelligence within the DOE and its national laboratories.” The attention is called.
At least four Energy Department meetings on climate since October have been reported only in Chinese media outlets — and one took place with a prominent member of the United Front Work Department, the CCP’s main foreign influence.
Barrasso said he had not received a response to Granholm’s March 4 letter asking about the meetings and that Energy Department representatives were making an “outlandish claim” that it would “enhance the national security of the United States.” “
“I am particularly troubled by the sudden reassignment of DOE’s Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence,” he wrote in his letter, adding that the department had on Nov. 21 investigated the circumstances. They have yet to hear back from him, which led to the arrest of Steven Black. Remove from role.
“By failing to provide adequate responses to the questions in our Nov. 21 letter, DOE has dramatically slowed our efforts to gather information and fulfill our oversight duties,” he said. “This is completely unacceptable.”
Barrasso has asked Granholm to outline her department’s strategy on the challenges posed by the AI race with China and other security risks posed by ongoing research cooperation by April 8.
The Post has reached out to the Department of Energy for comment.