Winton Hall, author of the best-selling book Code Red: Left, Right, China, and the Race to Control AI, has emerged as a significant voice on AI within the conservative movement. He concluded the recent Founders Roundtable hosted by Breitbart by urging the audience to “Stop assuming AI is over your head and start fighting for it.” Hall outlined five essential steps he believes conservatives should take immediately.
The event, titled “The Invisible War – AI, China, and the Battle for Global Domination,” was led by Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlowe and featured discussions among experts on China and AI, including Peter Schweitzer and Wynton Hall.
Hall’s message began with a central theme: “AI is not just a tool.” He suggested that it embodies political power as well. He emphasized that in the fight against AI, it’s crucial not to let China become a totalitarian surveillance state and called for action to “defeat China without becoming China.”
Hall presented his recommendations for the Founders Roundtable attendees:
- Learn the basics. “Don’t think you can’t understand AI.”
- Be proactive. Harness AI’s capabilities to “identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal contracts.”
- Prepare the next generation. Teach kids “how to create jobs, not just find them.”
- Maintain your beliefs. Stay vigilant about the looming “existential crisis.”
- Understand the players. Familiarize yourself with those involved in shaping AI, from humanism to the Effective Altruism Movement.
Confidence is key, Hall stressed. “Don’t think you can’t understand AI,” he said, noting that 99% of Americans are using AI without even realizing it. His book aims to clarify the topic with over 800 endnotes designed as a resource for readers.
Conservatives, he argued, should focus on innovation rather than merely reacting. “Let’s be creative and lead instead of panicking,” he said, suggesting that AI’s pattern recognition could help uncover inefficiencies in government contracts.
On nurturing future talent, Hall advocated for schools to prioritize teaching entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of preparing children for careers in a tech-driven future. He quoted NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, emphasizing that understanding AI will be essential for job security.
Addressing faith, Hall expressed concern over the misuse of AI in religious contexts, describing scenarios like “avatars of Jesus” in confessional settings as blasphemous and cautioning against the idolization of AI.
Finally, Hall urged attendees to understand the key players involved in AI development, questioning why significant donations often go to Democratic causes rather than conservative ones. He encouraged everyone to be informed before it’s too late, aiming for proactive leadership instead of reactive measures.
Schweitzer, also on the panel, mentioned that Hall’s book shifted his perspective from pessimism to a more hopeful outlook while cautioning against isolation. He noted that by 2030, China aims to lead in AI, a strategy outlined in the Chinese Communist Party’s 2017 development framework.
This discussion is part of a series of events for members of Breitbart Fight Club, aimed at facilitating engagement with experts and policymakers.
