AI Industry’s Cozy Ties With China Headed for Congressional Showdown

The artificial intelligence industry’s backdoor relationships with Communist China are finally getting the scrutiny they deserve. On Thursday, top executives from Microsoft, OpenAI, and AMD will face a no-nonsense grilling from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and others over their willingness to collaborate with America’s top geopolitical adversary.

Cruz, who organized the hearing titled “Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,” made it clear that China is the target. And rightly so.

“The way to beat China in the AI race is to outrace them in innovation, not saddle AI developers with European-style regulations,” Cruz said. “Everything we can do to de-link our economy from China’s economy is good for American national security and economic security.”

Microsoft, OpenAI, and AMD are all on the hot seat for either maintaining operations in China or openly expressing interest in deeper cooperation with the Chinese regime despite clear national security risks.

• Brad Smith (Microsoft President) has kept an AI research lab in Beijing open despite growing evidence it could be infiltrated or exploited by the CCP.

• Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO) said he’d “absolutely” like to work with China and urged the U.S. to allow it.

• Lisa Su (AMD CEO) defended keeping China as a “critical” market even as AI chip exports are restricted to protect U.S. technology from falling into Chinese hands.

Let’s be honest These tech elites are chasing profits while gambling with national security.

Even The New York Times no friend of America First policy admitted Microsoft debated shutting down its lab in Beijing due to credible fears of espionage and talent poaching by Chinese state-linked firms. Instead of taking precautions, Microsoft doubled down and reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the lab open.

“There has been no discussion or advocacy to close Microsoft Research Asia,” said Peter Lee, head of Microsoft Research. “We are as committed as ever.”

In other words, they’re not backing down without a fight even as Beijing steals our tech, manipulates markets, and aims to surpass the U.S. in every critical frontier of AI.

OpenAI’s Altman, for his part, seems more concerned about building “engagement” than protecting America. His naive optimism “Should we try as hard as we can? Absolutely yes” is music to the ears of Communist Party officials who salivate at the thought of U.S. firms handing over cutting-edge algorithms under the guise of collaboration.

AMD’s Su echoed similar themes, claiming there should be a “balance” between export controls and “widest possible adoption” of American-made AI chips. Translation? Sell out U.S. innovation for market access.

But the Trump administration has been clear This isn’t just a trade issue it’s a battlefield.

“This is our generation’s Manhattan Project,” one senior official said, referring to the Cold War-level competition to dominate supercomputing and AI infrastructure.

With Trump back in charge, the gloves are coming off. National security, not quarterly profits, will drive the next wave of U.S. tech policy.

The days of tech CEOs cozying up to Beijing while hiding behind buzzwords like “engagement” and “open collaboration” are over. Congress is watching. Trump is watching. And America’s future depends on what happens next.

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