Krishnamoorthi Presses AI Experts on Extinction Risk, China Chip Loopholes, and Data Center Secrecy

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today pressed artificial intelligence and national security experts on catastrophic AI risks, gaps in U.S. export controls governing Chinese access to American computing power, and secretive data center deals that leave communities in the dark.

During a Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Democratic shadow hearing, Krishnamoorthi asked Dr. Geoffrey Hinton whether his 2024 estimate of a 10 to 20 percent chance that AI could lead to human extinction within three decades had increased as AI capabilities advanced. Hinton said his “gut instinct is still between 10 and 20%.”

He also cited CNN reporting that an AI chatbot helped produce a false intelligence assessment claiming a Chinese ship was carrying nuclear cargo, an incident a source said “almost started a war.”

Turning to export controls, Krishnamoorthi questioned retired Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan about reports that DeepSeek trained a recent AI model on Nvidia’s Blackwell chips despite U.S. restrictions, and that Chinese AI companies have accessed restricted chips remotely through data centers in Southeast Asia. He urged Congress to adopt the AI Overwatch Act, which would reinstate Biden-era export controls on advanced chips, and the REMOTE Access Security Act, which would regulate foreign access to cloud compute.

“The president professes to want us to win the AI competition with China, but he's currently loosening our regulations with regard to export controls instead of tightening them.”

On data centers, Krishnamoorthi pressed EqualAI President and CEO Miriam Vogel on the use of non-disclosure agreements in data center development. He cited NPR reporting that 25 of 31 projects examined involved NDAs, including a nearly $4 billion Louisiana development where the environmental impact study was kept secret and residents did not learn what was happening until construction had already begun.

“Communities shouldn't have to fight for the truth about what's coming. And I believe we must prohibit non-disclosure agreements going forward with the construction of data centers.”

Video of Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s questioning is available here.