纽约时报：五角大楼和美国人工智能的共同弱点：它们急需中国的电池

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the critical dependence of the U.S. AI industry and military on Chinese battery technology, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to develop its own battery supply chain to ensure national security and technological leadership [1][4][5]. Group 1: Dependence on Chinese Batteries - U.S. data centers, crucial for AI, are increasingly reliant on large lithium-ion batteries, predominantly sourced from China, which leads in all industrial aspects of battery production [4][9]. - The U.S. military's reliance on Chinese battery components for weapon systems poses a national security threat, with approximately 6,000 battery components sourced from China [5][6]. - The Biden administration is shifting its focus to support domestic battery production to reduce reliance on China, recognizing battery technology as essential for both AI and defense sectors [6][8]. Group 2: Challenges in Developing Domestic Battery Industry - Experts indicate that establishing a U.S. battery industry independent of China will be extremely challenging, as China produces 99% of the world's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and over 90% of key components [9][12]. - The U.S. has lithium reserves and battery startups, but competing with China will require coordinated efforts and government support, with estimates suggesting at least five years to meet domestic LFP battery demand [9][12]. - Environmental regulations in the U.S. may increase the cost of extracting key minerals, further complicating the development of a competitive domestic battery supply chain [9][12]. Group 3: Strategic Importance of Battery Technology - The article discusses the strategic importance of reliable power supply for data centers, which require high uptime and are increasingly dependent on battery backup systems to prevent data loss during power outages [12][13]. - AI's energy demands are significantly higher than traditional internet services, necessitating robust power infrastructure to support fluctuating energy needs [13][14]. - The military's future capabilities are heavily reliant on battery technology, with a growing demand for batteries in various military applications, including drones and advanced weapon systems [17][18]. Group 4: Government Initiatives and Investments - The Biden administration has begun investing in battery component companies and has allocated up to $500 million for battery materials and recycling projects [8][19]. - Recent legislation includes restrictions on the Pentagon's procurement of batteries from "foreign entities of concern," primarily targeting China [8][19]. - The government is recognizing the need for a robust domestic battery industry, with discussions around energy policy and battery supply chain issues taking place at high levels [8][20].