Politics

Sundar Pichai urges US to unify AI regulation to stay competitive against China

Monday, 1 December 2025 2:48AM UTC

Google CEO Sundar Pichai calls for a cohesive federal approach to AI governance in the US, highlighting the need to prevent regulatory fragmentation and maintain global competitiveness amid growing Chinese advancements and international tensions.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has issued a cautionary call for the United States to carefully balance its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, warning that fragmented rules across states could impede national competitiveness, especially against rapidly advancing countries like China. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Pichai underscored the challenges posed by more than 1,000 AI-related legislative proposals currently moving through U.S. state legislatures, which risk creating a confusing regulatory environment for American companies.

Pichai argued for national-level regulation as a more effective means of fostering innovation while simultaneously establishing necessary guardrails, suggesting that a coordinated, federal approach could better position the U.S. against international rivals. "How do you cope with those varied regulations, and how do you compete with countries like China, which are moving fast in this technology?" he asked. His remarks reflect broader industry concerns about the rapid pace of Chinese AI development; in early 2025, Pichai acknowledged the noteworthy achievements of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, calling their work "very good" and highlighting the global and highly competitive nature of AI innovation.

Emphasising the dual-use nature of AI technologies, Pichai pointed out the potential of AI to deliver significant societal benefits, including advancements in medical treatments such as new drugs and cancer therapies. However, he also warned that the same tools could be weaponised by bad actors. Google is actively deploying AI tools defensively, for instance, its DeepMind-developed SynthID technology can identify AI-generated images and videos, helping to combat scams and phishing attacks. This capability was highlighted in a recent court ruling won by Google against a global phishing operator. Pichai stressed the importance of using AI not only offensively but also defensively to counteract malicious activities.

Looking beyond regulation and defense, Pichai also shared insights into Google's forward-looking "Suncatcher" project, which aims to develop solar-powered AI data centres located in outer space, a concept he believes could become a standard data centre model in the coming decade. This futuristic endeavour forms part of Alphabet's broader AI investment strategy, as the company earmarks around $75 billion in capital spending on AI-related initiatives this year alone, with significant investments in infrastructure and research globally, including a £5 billion commitment in the United Kingdom.

Pichai's vision for AI extends to governance on the international stage. He called for governments to collaborate on international frameworks and standards to ensure AI technologies are used cooperatively rather than weaponised, echoing Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s proposal earlier this year for a global AI cooperation organisation. Li emphasised the fragmentation of AI governance across countries and warned against AI becoming the preserve of a few dominant nations or corporations. This international tension, particularly between the U.S. and China over AI capabilities and semiconductor technology, remains a key strategic concern.

The regulatory environment in China also illustrates shifting dynamics: while Beijing dropped its antitrust investigation into Google in late 2025, signalling a possible thaw in U.S.-China tech tensions amidst ongoing trade talks, it has simultaneously increased scrutiny on Nvidia, a critical U.S. chipmaker. These moves reflect China's strategic recalibration as it balances control over its domestic tech sector with the pressures of global competition and diplomatic negotiations.

Domestically, the U.S. government has also taken steps to address AI safety, with the Department of Homeland Security establishing an AI safety board comprising leading tech executives, including Pichai, alongside civil rights advocates and public officials. This board seeks to guide federal strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure from AI-related risks while balancing innovation and risk management.

Despite concerns that AI might undermine human creativity, Pichai drew parallels to early scepticism about Google Search, expressing optimism that society will adapt and that AI could in fact enrich human creativity. Speaking to these adaptive challenges, Google has reorganised its leadership by appointing DeepMind CTO Koray Kavukcuoglu as its Chief AI Architect to spearhead AI-powered product development, as Alphabet responds to mounting market pressures to capitalise on its substantial AI investments.

Finally, Pichai cautioned about the sustainability of the current AI market boom, acknowledging signs of "irrationality" resembling previous tech bubbles. Although no company, including Google, would be immune if the AI bubble were to burst, he remains confident in Alphabet’s robust infrastructure and research investment to weather potential downturns.

Together, these developments underscore a pivotal moment for AI at the intersection of technological innovation, regulatory policy, international competition, and ethical governance. As Pichai emphasised, striking the right balance in national regulation and fostering international cooperation will be crucial to harnessing AI’s benefits while mitigating its risks.

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^[2] (Reuters) - Paragraphs 2, 7
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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/google-ceo-calls-national-ai-regulation-compete-china-more-effectively - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/googles-ceo-pichai-says-chinas-deepseek-has-done-very-good-work-2025-02-12/ - In February 2025, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged the achievements of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, stating that the company has done 'very good work,' highlighting the global nature of artificial intelligence advancements. Pichai emphasized that while Alphabet aims to be a leading player in the AI industry, other competitors, including firms like DeepSeek, will also play significant roles in the sector. His comments reflect both the competitiveness and international scope of the AI field.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/no-firm-is-immune-if-ai-bubble-bursts-google-ceo-tells-bbc-2025-11-18/ - In November 2025, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai warned that no company, including Google, would be spared if the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble were to burst. He acknowledged the AI sector's extraordinary growth and investment but noted signs of 'irrationality' reminiscent of the dotcom bubble. Despite this, Pichai expressed confidence in Google's resilience and highlighted Alphabet's significant £5 billion commitment to AI infrastructure and research in the UK, including new data centers and support for DeepMind.
https://www.reuters.com/business/google-names-insider-kavukcuoglu-to-lead-ai-powered-product-development-2025-06-11/ - In June 2025, Google appointed Koray Kavukcuoglu, the Chief Technology Officer of its DeepMind AI lab, as its new Chief AI Architect to lead AI-powered product development. In this newly created role, Kavukcuoglu will also become a senior vice president reporting directly to CEO Sundar Pichai and will continue as DeepMind’s CTO, reporting to CEO Demis Hassabis. The move comes as Alphabet pushes to integrate AI more deeply into its products amid increasing market pressure to yield financial returns from its projected $75 billion in AI-related capital spending this year.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-premier-li-proposes-global-ai-cooperation-organisation-2025-07-26/ - In July 2025, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang proposed the creation of a global organization to foster international cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized the need for a unified global governance framework, noting that AI governance is currently fragmented due to differing regulatory concepts and institutional rules among countries. Amid rising technological tensions between China and the U.S., especially concerning AI capabilities and chip technology, Li stressed the risks of AI becoming an 'exclusive game' for a few nations and companies.
https://apnews.com/article/de4cc480788f562904bf0698f359c314 - In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the formation of a new artificial intelligence safety board aimed at advising the federal government on safeguarding critical services from potential AI-related disruptions. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas introduced the 22-member board, which includes top tech executives such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. Other members include CEOs from Adobe, AMD, Delta Air Lines, IBM, Northrop Grumman, Occidental Petroleum, and Amazon Web Services. The board also features AI scientist Fei-Fei Li of Stanford University, civil rights advocates, and public officials like Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Though primarily composed of corporate leaders, the board aims to balance technological advancement with risk management, helping the DHS anticipate and counter evolving threats. Notably, social media companies such as Meta and X were excluded from the panel.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/beijing-drops-google-probe-shifting-focus-nvidia-us-trade-talks-ft-reports-2025-09-18/ - In September 2025, China decided to end its antitrust investigation into Google, signaling a shift in regulatory strategy amid ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations. According to the Financial Times, this move reflects Beijing's intention to ease tensions with Washington by demonstrating flexibility, while simultaneously increasing scrutiny on Nvidia, a U.S.-based chipmaker. China's State Administration for Market Regulation had initially opened the Google probe in February, suspecting violations of anti-monopoly laws, though no detailed allegations were made public. Google has not yet received formal notice of the investigation being dropped. Meanwhile, China has recently launched an antitrust probe into Nvidia following a preliminary inquiry into its business practices. These developments come against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions, largely driven by U.S. tariffs imposed under President Trump and regulatory threats involving TikTok, prompting retaliatory measures from China, including tariffs and increased scrutiny of American tech firms.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, published on November 30, 2025. Similar discussions have occurred in the past, such as Pichai's acknowledgment of China's DeepSeek in February 2025. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/googles-ceo-pichai-says-chinas-deepseek-has-done-very-good-work-2025-02-12/?utm_source=openai)) However, the specific call for national AI regulation to compete with China is a new development. No evidence of recycled content or press release origin was found.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: Direct quotes from Pichai, such as "How do you cope with those varied regulations, and how do you compete with countries like China, which are moving fast in this technology?" , appear unique to this report. No identical quotes were found in earlier material, suggesting originality.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from Fox Business, a reputable organisation. However, the specific segment is from 'Fox News Sunday,' which may have a different editorial focus. No evidence of fabrication or unverifiable entities was found.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims align with Pichai's previous statements and Google's known positions on AI regulation. The narrative includes updated data, such as Pichai's recent comments on AI regulation, which may justify a higher freshness score. No inconsistencies or suspicious elements were identified.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is recent and original, with direct quotes from Pichai that appear unique. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible and consistent with known information. No significant issues were identified, indicating a high level of credibility.

AI regulation
US-China tech rivalry
International cooperation