Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on China and a potential presidential candidate, has sent letters to Chinese AI companies and US intelligence asking for assurances about AI safety. The letters were shared exclusively with The Verge.
Khanna is pressing Chinese firms on their pursuit of “superintelligence” and recursive self-improvement (RSI), the hypothetical point where an AI improves itself faster than humans can keep pace. He wants to know whether they have kill switches, whether they would accept inspections, and whether they agree with the idea of a US-China treaty banning RSI and monitoring frontier AI labs.
Khanna’s Questions to Chinese Companies
Khanna asked DeepSeek, Alibaba, and Moonshot AI for documentation on their superintelligence ambitions. He wanted to know:
- Whether they are pursuing superintelligence or RSI
- Whether they have implemented safeguards or kill switches
- Whether they would accept inspections by a non-governmental agency under a treaty
The companies have not responded publicly to The Verge’s requests for comment.
ODNI Gets a Request Too
Khanna also wrote to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He asked the agency to assess how effectively the US might respond if an AI lab lost control of its bots — a scenario that has grown increasingly common recently.
He also asked ODNI to evaluate the Chinese government’s approach to assessing catastrophic AI risks. ODNI director Jay Clayton was the recipient of that letter.
The Treaty Push
Khanna is calling for a US-China treaty that would ban RSI and establish monitoring of frontier AI labs. He proposes a working group with experts from both countries to suggest safety recommendations and ensure compliance.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has similarly called for an AI treaty between the countries.
Why the Chinese Companies May Not Answer
Khanna acknowledges the Chinese companies are unlikely to respond fully. They did not respond to an earlier letter asking for a commitment to slow AI development alongside OpenAI and Anthropic.
His stated goal is to “shame them” and “spark a debate” among Chinese AI companies about safety. He says he is critical of US AI firms too, but notes “at least they’re engaging in safety conversations.”
Khanna’s View of the Gap
Khanna says the two countries “could not be more different on many issues.” He wrote in his letter to ODNI director Jay Clayton that “it benefits neither country for humanity to lose control of our destiny.”
He also argues that world leaders are “out of touch with the scientists and technologists in their own countries.” He believes many Chinese models are derived from US models.
Republican Doubts
Republicans like House China Committee Chair John Moolenaar (R-MI) have been skeptical the Chinese government would keep its end of the bargain. Trump and his allies have been resistant to most regulations or agreements.
Khanna’s approach includes a non-governmental inspection role.
Trump’s Post on Truth Social
Before his meeting with Xi, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also.”
What Comes Next
The companies and ODNI have not yet answered Khanna’s questions. The Verge’s request for comment went unanswered by all parties involved.
Khanna admits the treaty is unlikely to happen soon. But he is using the letters as a way to put Chinese companies on notice and draw attention to the safety gap between the US and China.
The stakes are high. An AI lab losing control of its bots is no longer a theoretical risk. It is a scenario that has grown increasingly common.
Khanna’s letters are a blunt instrument. He is trying to shame companies into action, and he is trying to force a conversation that many powerful people would rather avoid.
The questions are on the table. The answers are not yet.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Trump meets Xi at the White House | Last week |
| Khanna sends letters to Chinese companies and ODNI | Recently |
| Khanna’s interview with The Verge | Monday |
| Trump posts on Truth Social | Before meeting Xi |
| White House meeting with tech executives | Tuesday |
Source material: “Will Chinese AI companies slow down? A top House Democrat wants answers,” The Verge.
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