This smacks of 'solving' nuclear tensions by building nukes.
The solution to the "AI race" is to not participate, in so doing defunding & ending it so we have a planet to live on, while avoiding rogue & weaponised automation scribbling over our minds, markets, cultures & infrastructures.
Sovereign, contained 'AI' for medicine, radio astronomy, genetic research, OK. AI in banking, public sector, in our schools, on our networks, transport infra.. It'll only end badly
https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ecb-president-lagarde-warns-europe-114234133.html