ai-policy american-science global-competition ai-innovation

The case for overhauling American science

economist.com

August 14, 2026

1 min read

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44/100

Summary

Michael Kratsios advocates for an overhaul of American science to leverage AI and enhance competitiveness against China. He references the historical context of Vannevar Bush's report, "Science: The Endless Frontier," which shaped government support for basic science in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

The American scientific enterprise needs an overhaul to effectively harness AI and compete with China.
Vannevar Bush's report, "Science: The Endless Frontier," laid the foundation for government support of basic science and led to the establishment of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The triumphal attitude towards science and technology significantly shaped the "American Century."

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Community Sentiment

Negative

Positives

The proposal is seen as thoughtful in diagnosing the problems of the current system, sparking discussion about the need for direct funding to researchers.

Concerns

Commenters are skeptical that simply disbursing money to researchers will escape the same pitfalls of corruption and ideological bias as the current funding model.
Many see the focus on out-competing China as misguided, arguing that outsourcing R&D could lead to a loss of jobs and innovation in the US.
There's a strong sentiment that the current administration's approach to science funding is more about political maneuvering than genuine support for scientific advancement.

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