US threatens China as AI models narrow gap

China’s artificial intelligence platforms are rapidly catching up to their US rivals. This progress has triggered new warnings from the Trump administration. US officials accuse China of stealing intellectual property to fuel its AI boom. The growing tension raises a key question: could the rivalry escalate into a full-blown conflict? Chinese models now perform nearly as well as American ones in several key benchmarks. This shift erodes the technological lead the US has long held. The White House has not detailed specific new actions. But the threat of tariffs or export controls on AI chips remains on the table. Analysts say the situation is fluid. Both sides are racing to dominate the next generation of technology.