The New York Times report says the Trump administration has faced contradictory policies in the Pentagon and other government agencies as it tries to strike a balance between rapid AI adoption and security concerns, while also competing with China.

The administration has repeatedly changed course regarding AI safety reviews, foreign access to advanced models, and restrictions on Nvidia chip sales to China.

Washington is becoming increasingly concerned that China is only about six months behind the United States in advanced AI models, which could give Beijing stronger capabilities for cyber operations against America’s military networks and critical infrastructure.