Will a $100 Trillion AI Solve Real Problems?

The race for AI leadership between the United States and China is poised to define the 21st century. But what if success is not about outperforming an opponent, but about building technology that works better for everyone?

In this episode of Horizons, Austin Carson, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit SeedAI and a former congressional technology advisor, argues that America’s greatest advantage lies in the untapped brilliance of its people. From the halls of Congress to the infrastructure powering modern data centers, Carson outlines a vision for democratized AI development that serves real world community needs. He explores why stronger connections between policymakers and technologists matter and how public private partnerships can help unlock a new era of innovation, resilience and shared prosperity.

The AI race between the United States and China dominates today’s tech policy conversation, but what if we are defining “winning” the wrong way? In this episode of Horizons, the discussion reframes global competition, arguing that lasting leadership is not about outpacing an adversary, but about building AI that delivers meaningful value for people everywhere.

Austin Carson, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit SeedAI and former congressional technology advisor, outlines a new vision for American leadership in the AI era. He explains why even the most advanced AI will “unquestionably fail” if it is not grounded in real world needs, and why the path forward depends on democratizing innovation and unlocking talent across the entire country, not just a handful of coastal hubs.

The AI race between the United States and China is about more than technology. It is a contest for cultural influence and moral leadership that will shape how artificial intelligence impacts society for generations to come.

In this episode of Horizons, policy expert Austin Carson, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit SeedAI, explains why leadership will not be defined by the most ambitious or centralized projects, but by who ensures AI meaningfully improves the economic security and everyday lives of people. He argues that lasting global leadership depends on building a distributed innovation ecosystem that solves real world problems and empowers communities across the country.