OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raises alarm over China, urges America to act on ‘China-safe’ chip rules

Sam Altman

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed deep concerns about China’s role in the global technology landscape, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence and advanced chip manufacturing. Speaking during a recent interaction, Altman noted that the United States needs to strengthen its strategy to safeguard AI development while ensuring critical resources such as semiconductor chips are not misused. His remarks come as Washington discusses new “China-safe” policies aimed at limiting Beijing’s access to cutting-edge hardware.

Altman’s warning
Altman highlighted that China’s rapid progress in AI and computing infrastructure poses long-term strategic risks. He said that while collaboration in technology has often been global, certain boundaries must be drawn to prevent adversarial use cases. According to him, the U.S. should not underestimate the pace at which China is advancing in the fields of supercomputing and AI research.

What is ‘China-safe’ chip policy?
The Biden administration has been working on regulations that would restrict the export of high-end AI chips to China. These measures, often referred to as “China-safe” policies, are meant to curb Beijing’s ability to train powerful AI models using American-designed processors. Altman supported the idea of tightening such controls, arguing that access to frontier chips is a key factor in determining who leads the AI race.

Why chips matter in AI
AI systems like large language models depend heavily on advanced GPUs and other specialized semiconductors for training and deployment. Without access to these resources, developing competitive AI at scale becomes far more difficult. Altman noted that while talent and data are crucial, chip availability is the decisive factor in determining whether a nation can sustain leadership in AI development.

Altman urged U.S. policymakers to move quickly, stressing that delays in implementing export restrictions could create vulnerabilities. He also emphasized the need for the U.S. to continue investing in domestic chip manufacturing so that its own AI research ecosystem remains self-reliant. His remarks echo concerns raised by other tech leaders who have warned about the strategic risks of depending on foreign supply chains.