Top Democrat Jim Himes Calls Chip Curbs Key US Leverage Against China in AI Race

Top Democrat says chip restrictions are ‘key lever’ for US AI edge over China

Jim Himes has warned that the United States cannot assume its lead in frontier artificial intelligence will last indefinitely, while arguing that restrictions on advanced chips remain Washington’s strongest source of leverage in the competition with China.

Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, made the comments as the US midterm elections approached.

Himes points to advanced-chip controls

“I don’t believe for one second that we’re going to maintain a lead over Chinese frontier models forever. But we should for as long as we can,” Himes said at a Brookings event in Washington.

He identified the “one real lever” available to the United States as “just slowing the dispersion of advanced chips into China.”

His remarks link the export and movement of advanced chips to Washington’s effort to retain an advantage in frontier AI, an area described in the source as part of a broader global technology race.

Himes said he did not believe America would maintain its lead over China indefinitely, but argued that the country should preserve that lead for as long as possible.

Remarks come before midterm elections

The comments came just two weeks before the US midterm elections, according to the source.

A separate source description says the remarks came ahead of next month’s midterm elections, with recent polls suggesting Democrats could regain control of Congress.

The timing places Himes’s comments against a closely watched political backdrop, while the substance focuses on the United States’ ability to slow the spread of advanced chips into China.

Himes is also a member of the “Gang of Eight”, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders who are briefed on classified national security matters.

His position gives the comments added relevance to the debate over advanced technology and national security, although the source does not indicate any new policy announcement.

Source: South China Morning Post