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HomeTechnologyAIVideosOpenAI Investor Vinod Khosla Says the U.S. Must Win the AI Race Against China #AI #Trump
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OpenAI Investor Vinod Khosla Says the U.S. Must Win the AI Race Against China #AI #Trump

•March 13, 2026
Fortune Magazine
Fortune Magazine•Mar 13, 2026

Why It Matters

The assessment signals that U.S. policymakers and investors must treat AI development as a strategic imperative, or risk losing global economic and geopolitical influence to China.

Key Takeaways

  • •Khosla backs aggressive U.S. AI policy despite political differences.
  • •He frames AI competition with China as a techno‑economic war.
  • •Winning AI, he argues, equates to global economic dominance.
  • •DeepSeek’s breakthrough cited as warning of rapid advances.
  • •Calls for U.S. to outpace China to secure socioeconomic power.

Summary

Vinod Khosla, co‑founder of Khosla Ventures, appeared on a discussion about the United States’ strategic stance toward artificial intelligence, emphasizing that the nation must win the AI race against China. While he acknowledges personal disagreements with the Trump administration and notes he is on their watch list, he concurs with their hard‑line AI policy.

Khosla describes the AI contest as a "techno‑economic war," arguing that dominance in AI translates directly into broader economic and geopolitical power. He points to DeepSeek’s recent breakthrough as a signal that rapid, disruptive advances can emerge from any quarter, underscoring the urgency for the U.S. to accelerate its own research and deployment pipelines.

Notable remarks include, "We are in a techno‑economic war with China and we shouldn't call it anything other than a war," and, "Whoever wins the AI race will win the economic race and the race for socioeconomic power globally." These statements frame AI as the decisive battleground for future global influence.

The implications are clear: policymakers and investors must treat AI development as a national security priority, mobilizing funding, talent, and regulatory frameworks to outpace China. Failure to do so could cede not only technological leadership but also long‑term economic and strategic advantage to a rival superpower.

Original Description

OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla, a vocal Trump critic, said he “mostly” agreed with President Trump’s approach to AI and China, even though he disagreed with most of the administration’s other policies.
In a new episode of Fortune 500: Titans and Disruptors of Industry, Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell sat down with Khosla to learn about his beliefs for future policy, and what the U.S. needs to do to win the global AI race.
Click the link in our bio to watch the full conversation.
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Fortune Magazine is a global leader in business journalism with 55 million monthly page views and a readership of nearly 32 million, with major franchises including the Fortune 500 and the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. The new Fortune video channel dives into personal stories from business owners and entrepreneurs becoming successful in business and sharing their tips to help you reach your goals.
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