House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) has stated that the U.S. can lead the global AI race if the government avoids heavy-handed regulation and private industry steps up as a "patriotic partner". This statement was made during a speech at the Hill & Valley Forum 2026. Johnson compared the AI challenge to the space race and credited the U.'s advantage to both military strength and technological leadership. The company's CEO, Satya Nadella, has emphasized that progress in AI models is critical to the company's long-term strategy.