US-China AI race takes a dangerous turn: former White House official says Washington must prepare for extreme measures if China reaches AGI first

A US official proposed extreme options to counter China's potential artificial general intelligence breakthrough. These options include intelligence operations, cyber activity, and military action against Chinese AI infrastructure. Experts warn that attacking data centers could trigger a direct conflict between nuclear-armed nations. The US currently leads in AI, but China's rapid progress poses a significant challenge. The race for AI dominance could reshape global economic and military power dynamics.