U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated at the Milken Institute Global Conference on May 5 that AI and quantum computing are not just a technological race, but a core strategy concerning the future fate of the United States. He also pointed out that China's progress in the field of AI has already caught up with the U.S., and one of the priorities of the Trump administration moving forward is to combat China's intellectual property (IP) theft.

AI and quantum are battles of national destiny; the United States cannot afford to lose.
Besent stated: "We must win in AI and quantum computing; if we lose, everything is meaningless."
He pointed out that China is rapidly catching up, and while this is quite natural, he still believes that the United States will maintain its leading position.
He doesn't want the government to select technology winners, but rather to create an environment that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to succeed while protecting intellectual property rights through policy.