• •Peter Thiel stated to Mathias Döpfner that the US anti-AI backlash is driven by internal factors rather than Chinese influence.
• •Thiel dismissed the narrative that Beijing is the primary source of American tech criticism, characterizing it as an 'easy' scapegoat.
• •While Thiel identifies domestic cultural and regulatory resistance, he leaves undefined what specific internal mechanisms are fueling this opposition.

Peter Thiel recently stated that the mounting skepticism toward artificial intelligence in the United States is a self-inflicted wound, rejecting the idea that China is the main driver of the sentiment. This perspective contrasts with many in Washington who frequently frame AI advancement as a necessary arms race against geopolitical rivals. However, the critique remains abstract, as Thiel did not outline specific domestic policy changes or social factors that could mitigate this internal friction. Whether this rhetoric signals a shift in Silicon Valley’s approach to lobbying for AI deregulation remains to be seen.