Republican Representative Nathaniel Moran of Texas told NewsNation on Monday that the United States must first prevail over China in artificial intelligence. He said new statutes now would be unwise because an election is close, tempers are high, and many members of Congress still lack sufficient knowledge.

Moran said industry has regulated itself well and can track rapid change better than lawmakers, though Congress should still set some rules. He said China will not freely accept an AI agreement, yet Washington can still seek talks because Chinese systems depend on American semiconductors.

He compared that approach to Cold War discussions with the Soviet Union on nuclear missiles and said the United States should keep pressing China on AI.