OpenAI has presented a comprehensive blueprint to position the U.S. as the global leader in artificial intelligence to lawmakers in Washington, according to documents reviewed by CNBC and FedScoop.
The centerpiece of the proposal is the creation of AI economic zones, jointly established by state and federal governments. These zones would fast-track infrastructure development, particularly benefiting regions like the Midwest and Southwest, said Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global policy, in an interview with CNBC.
“Parts of the country that have been ‘left behind’ as we enter the digital age… are going to be the types of places where you have the land and ability to do wind farms and to do solar facilities,” Lehane explained.
Beyond economic zones, OpenAI’s blueprint calls for leveraging the U.S. Navy’s nuclear expertise to accelerate civilian nuclear development and compete with China’s rapid expansion. The plan also proposes a “National Transmission Highway Act” to overhaul America’s power grid infrastructure.
To counter China’s growing AI influence, the document advocates establishing a North American AI alliance that could eventually expand globally. “AI presents an unmissable opportunity to reindustrialize the US and through that, generate the kind of broad-based economic growth that will revitalize the American Dream,” the blueprint states, according to FedScoop.
The scale of OpenAI’s vision is substantial, projecting the U.S. AI industry will require 50 gigawatts of energy by 2030 to stay competitive. The company promises this plan will create tens of thousands of jobs, drive GDP growth, modernize the power grid, and attract billions in global investment.
Whether this ambitious blueprint gains traction in Washington remains to be seen, but it marks a significant convergence of corporate strategy and national policy priorities for the future of American technology leadership.
About the author:
