Former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned Tuesday against countries pursuing an isolationist approach to artificial intelligence, arguing that governments and companies need to cooperate to manage the technology’s economic and security risks even as nations compete on its development.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Raimondo said that as AI capabilities advance rapidly, countries need to build shared standards and common guidelines around the technology rather than retreat into purely national approaches. “No single country, no single company, no single industry can manage this technology alone,” she said.
Raimondo said AI is already lifting productivity at a rapid pace, and called for governments to invest in retraining, redeployment programs and stronger safety nets to ensure workers are not left behind as the technology reshapes industries.
She cautioned that unchecked AI growth could hit the US economy with a shock comparable to the disruption caused by China's rise as a manufacturing power in the 2000s, potentially triggering significant job losses and political turmoil if the transition isn't managed carefully.
Raimondo's remarks reflect a balancing act now facing policymakers across major economies: pushing to compete aggressively with rivals like China on AI capability while simultaneously building the kind of international cooperation and domestic safety nets needed to prevent the technology's disruption from spiraling into broader economic and political instability.
