The American AI Paradox: Racing Ahead, But Is Anyone Following? The narrative is compelling, urgent, and repeated like a mantra: the United States is in a high-stakes, global race for artificial intelligence supremacy. The finish line is technological dominance, and the primary competitor is clear. Federal initiatives pour billions into R&D, Silicon Valley’s engines of innovation roar at full throttle, and business leaders are told to adopt AI or be left behind. The message is one of unbridled momentum: push forward at all costs.