Canadian billionaire investor and former Shark Tank investor, Kevin O’Leary has urged the US government not to follow the heavy regulation path of the Europe. O’Leary warned that this could cost America its leadership in the global AI race. In an interview with Fox News, O’Leary argued that Europe’s strict rules after World War II drove innovators and capital to the United States. ““After the Second World War, they screwed themselves. They put a regulatory environment in so onerous that everybody just brought their dough to the United States and developed their companies here. And stole the people that were innovators,” O’Leary said.He further contrasted Europe’s struggles with the United Arab Emirates, which he praised for its pro-business polices. ““They innovate, they’re number three in AI now. And they have nothing to do with Europe in terms of regulations,” he added.
Kevin O’Leary issues warning to US policymakers
O’Leary has also cautioned that the US risks losing its edge in AI if it imposes restrictive chip policies and fails to upgrade its power grid. He noted that the energy infrastructure of America has not kept pace with the soaring demands of AI data centres, while China is rapidly expanding its power capacity. Along with this, O’Leary also criticised US export restrictions on AI chips, arguing that selling them globally even to rivals would strengthen American dominance and attract top talent. “We should keep bringing over any genius from anywhere and train them here otherwise the Chinese will,” he said.For O’Leary, the future of AI leadership will be determined not just by funding but by reliable, affordable energy and the ability to attract global innovators. He pointed to NASA’s origins, where the U.S. absorbed German rocket scientists after World War II, as an example of how talent migration can shape national leadership in technology.
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