House Subcommittee Announces Hearing on PRC AI, Robotics and Autonomous Tech Risks

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andy Ogles announced a hearing for Tuesday, March 17, to examine the growing national and economic security threats associated with artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous sensing technologies developed by companies affiliated with the People's Republic of China. The hearing will focus on companies such as DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics. It will examine how these firms develop and deploy advanced technologies along with the potential risks these systems pose to U.S. critical infrastructure, government networks and sensitive industrial sectors. The Subcommittee will assess whether existing federal procurement safeguards, guidance and supply chain security tools are sufficient to address these risks. It will also examine steps Congress can take to strengthen U.S. companies and reinforce the domestic technology and manufacturing base. Chairman Ogles said those risks could grow even more severe if CCP backed technologies become embedded across key sectors of the U.S. economy. He said AI systems like DeepSeek, which may be built on stolen intellectual property, and Chinese robotic and sensing companies like Unitree Robotics mean the country cannot risk dependence on or exposure to technology created by one of its greatest adversaries. The hearing is entitled DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics: Examining the National Security Risks of PRC Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Autonomous Technologies and Building a Secure U.S. Technology Base. It is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EDT in 310 Cannon House Office Building. The hearing will be livestreamed on YouTube and is open to the public and press. Witnesses scheduled to appear include Max Fenkell, global head of policy and government relations at Scale AI. Matthew Malchano, vice president of software at Boston Dynamics, Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, and Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations, are also set to testify.