On July 22, 2025, Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, warned of the threat posed by ChinaAI on our virtual future. He was forthcoming with his ideas during a rare press event in Washington, D.C. His remarks served to underscore the confusing environment around the perceived or actual competition in the AI technology race between the U.S. and China.
Altman said he was most worried about China gaining the upper hand, especially in building inference capacity, an increasingly important area of AI production. He stated, “There’s inference capacity, where China probably can build faster. There’s research, there’s product; a lot of layers to the whole thing. I don’t think it’ll be as simple as: Is the U.S. or China ahead?” This seemingly offhand comment speaks to his deeper understanding of the nuances of AI competition. He argues that it should be more than an apples-to-apples progress comparison.
Giving a growing priority to regulating AI-related exports to China has been an increasing priority for the U.S. government. Altman emphasized that the export controls were aimed at slowing down China’s AI development. Perhaps nowhere is he more skeptical than in how effective all these measures will be. He argued that these steps won’t do much to slow China’s progress in the area as some policymakers wishfully think.
Aside from Altman’s notable comments, some other major things happened over the past week. Home Depot announced dire earnings, failing to meet analyst expectations for the first time since 2014. The home improvement behemoth’s revenue and profit numbers came in below expectations. This disappointment has led to renewed anxiety among investors about its future prospects.
At the same time, Novo Nordisk was giving investor updates on its highly profitable new weight-loss drugs. The company announced that Wegovy, a drug designed for weight management, received accelerated approval from U.S. regulators for treating a serious liver disease. Additionally, Ozempic, a medication primarily used for diabetes treatment, is now available to cash-paying U.S. patients at a price less than half of its listed monthly rate.
In the arena of world affairs, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy found himself in the same position as U.S. President Donald Trump. Similarly, he was seen meeting with European leaders in Washington D.C. Earlier that same month, Trump had met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. This vibrant discussion highlighted how the geopolitical currents in play continue to shape the region.
A new workplace phenomenon, dubbed “job hugging” or “job hopping,” gained ground. This national trend is a testament to employees’ growing desire and ability to jump ship—sometimes just for a healthier workplace.