**Databricks Co-founder Urges Open Source AI for US to Outpace China**
A prominent voice in the tech world, Matei Zaharia, co-founder of Databricks, has issued a stark warning: the United States must embrace an open-source strategy for artificial intelligence if it hopes to maintain its competitive edge against China. Zaharia argues that while proprietary models offer short-term advantages, a more collaborative and open approach will foster faster innovation, broader adoption, and a more robust ecosystem—qualities he believes are essential to counter China’s rapid advancements in AI. By democratizing access to foundational AI technologies, the US could accelerate research, attract a wider pool of talent, and ultimately build a more resilient and dynamic AI infrastructure capable of outmaneuvering its geopolitical rival.