Senator Todd Young is one of the most thoughtful members of Congress on the ways that technology is reshaping the labor market and the economy as a whole — and its national security implications. The Indiana Republican’s recent essay in The National Interest offers an answer to this question:
How might we also ensure that all who share in the blessings of new technologies are joining us to enable a new tech ecosystem that adheres to Western rules, values, and interests, not those of our autocratic adversaries?
Young offers many policy proposals in his essay. Three highlights:
Congress should act swiftly to fully fund the authorities of the “and Science” portion of the bill. In order to out-compete and out-innovate our competitors, we must present a more compelling option to the world through better, more affordable technology products and services that are produced at scale. Our private sector and our capital markets are the best in the world, but they are not optimized for the types of investments needed, especially as the CCP increasingly puts its thumb on the scale in support. Through the strategic investments of the entire CHIPS and Science Act, we can provide the positive spark that helps more innovators commercialize their research and present options to the world that are not tainted by the authoritarian designs of the CCP.
And:
The Trump administration should build on the success of the digital trade chapter of the 2018 United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) and its landmark 2019 U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement to make digital trade a core pillar of future trade negotiations. Nominated U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer should strike new free trade agreements to provide downstream and upstream support for America’s technology sector, including in semiconductors.
And:
Crucially, America must keep working with like-minded allies and partners while utilizing commercial and trade advantages wherever possible to develop a liberal, democratic market for technology that reinforces our values—privacy, transparency, safety, property rights, freedom of speech, and religion. With these standards at the forefront and using the power of strong cross-border agreements on digital trade, we should present a high barrier to entry for technologies—whether AI, biotech, telecommunications, or any other foundational capability—from countries of concern.
I disagree with some of Senator Young’s ideas and emphasis but benefited from engaging with his entire essay. I encourage you to read it here.
The senator is ultimately an optimist. I am, too. From my recent National Affairs article:
The year 2023 will be remembered as a turning point in history. The previous year, humans and machines could not converse using natural language. But in 2023, they could.
Many greeted this news with wonder and optimism; others responded with cynicism and fear. The latter argue that AI poses a profound risk to society, and even the future of humanity. The public is hearing these concerns: A YouGov poll from November 2023 found that 43% of Americans were very or somewhat concerned about “the possibility that AI will cause the end of the human race on Earth.”
This view ignores the astonishing advances in human welfare that technological progress has delivered. For instance, over the past 12 decades, child mortality has plummeted thanks in large part to advances in drugs, therapies, and medical treatment, combined with economic and productivity gains. Generative AI is already being used to develop new drugs to treat various health conditions. Other advances in the technology will mitigate the threat of a future pandemic. AI is helping scientists better understand volcanic activity — the source of most previous mass-extinction events — and to detect and eliminate the threat of an asteroid hitting the earth. AI appears more likely to save humanity than to wipe it out.
Like all technological revolutions, the AI revolution will be disruptive. But it will ultimately lead to a better world.