US Congress Holds Hearing on AI Trade Secrets Amid Global Arms Race

Artificial intelligence is rapidly integrating into various sectors, with 88% of legal professionals in China already using AI tools in their work. However, AI's rise has sparked concerns about societal impacts, including warnings from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley who predicts AI could create a new caste system, concentrating power among tech elites while displacing millions of workers. In response to AI's growing influence, a coalition of leading tech investors and companies has formed the group Leading the Future (LTF) to influence U.S. AI policy and maintain American global leadership. Legal challenges around AI also continue, as landmark court rulings in California have found that AI training using copyrighted works can qualify as fair use, potentially shaping the future of intellectual property law. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are increasingly focused on protecting trade secrets amid the global AI arms race, highlighting concerns over intellectual property theft and the need to secure AI as critical infrastructure against foreign threats. These developments underscore the complex legal, economic, and ethical landscape surrounding AI's expansion in the U.S. and globally.