Proposed bill targets Chinese AI models amid rising US-China tensions

Washington: US Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill aimed at curbing China’s influence in artificial intelligence. If passed, the law would impose severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both, for individuals who knowingly download Chinese-developed AI models like DeepSeek.

The proposed measure highlights escalating tensions between the United States and China as both nations compete for dominance in AI technology.

Aim of the bill

The bill, introduced last week, seeks to prohibit US individuals from contributing to AI capabilities linked to China, including DeepSeek, a rapidly growing AI model.

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Harvard AI research fellow Ben Brooks called the measure “the most aggressive legislative action on AI to date,” according to reports.

What does the US senator say?

In a statement, Hawley emphasized the risks of supporting China’s AI advancements. “Every dollar and gig of data that flows into Chinese AI are dollars and data that will ultimately be used against the United States. America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength. Ensuring American economic superiority means cutting China off from American ingenuity and halting the subsidization of CCP innovation,” Hawley stated.

He also described DeepSeek as “a data-harvesting, low-cost AI model that sparked international concern and sent American technology stocks plummeting.”

Will the bill be passed?

The bill’s future remains uncertain, as it was tabled shortly after its introduction. However, its proposal signals growing urgency in Congress to address security and economic concerns related to AI technologies.

While Hawley’s bill may not pass in its current form, its introduction suggests that Congress could introduce further AI-related restrictions in the coming months. Regardless of whether DeepSeek is formally banned, the debate over China’s role in AI is far from over.