US export controls and the prospect of a stronger Chinese AI competitor

A post quotes Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, citing 20VC with Harry Stebbings, as saying US export controls are the only reason for a 12-month gap between open-source and frontier AI models. He says China can build data centers faster, with power, permits, labor and expertise posing no problem. His warning: restrictions could push China to get better at building the physical infrastructure behind AI, turning it into a “far more potent competitor.”