Open Letter to David Sacks
To: White House AI and Crypto Czar; Chief of Staff of White House AI and Crypto Czar
From: Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI
Subject: Strategic Brief on the Prospects of an US-China-led AI Treaty to Cement US Leadership and Prevent Loss of Control Risk
Dear Mr David Sacks,
I am writing to you as the head of the Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI, made of 10 NGOs and over 40 multidisciplinary experts (including top former US national security officials) to propose that you lead, alongside President Trump, an age-defining deal on AI with China: The Deal of the Century.
As the White House AI and Crypto Czar, you are facing a vital dilemma. On one side, you want to ensure US AI leadership and prevent Chinese AI dominance; on the other, you want to prevent the dangers of an unchecked global race leading to loss of control over AI or centralization of power in one or few tech firms.
US federal safety regulations would just worsen the first challenge while doing nothing to prevent the second, as China would race ahead. Perhaps tackling those challenges is not a zero-sum game. Perhaps, there are ways by which the US could co-lead with China an extraordinarily bold AI treaty and solve both those challenges in a positive-sum game.
Your Track Record—And What Comes Next
You've said publicly: "There is some non-zero risk of AI growing into a superintelligence that's beyond our control. I think about that all the time, and I do think we should be concerned about it."
You've successfully onshored AI infrastructure, fast-tracked data centers, implemented export controls. You've secured America's competitive position.
But the current path leads to catastrophe, Chinese dominance, or the government overreach you fear most. There may be another option—one that locks in American economic advantage while preventing the downside you think about "all the time."
You've stated: "AI is a wonderful tool for the betterment of humanity; AGI is a potential successor species." You're right. And that creates an impossible situation.
AI labs racing toward ASI in 12-24 months. Lab CEOs and top experts assign 10-20% extinction probability. China 18-24 months behind, closing fast. Competitive pressure forces safety corner-cutting.
Your three options:
Continue the race — Risk losing control or Chinese victory
Impose bold US safety regulations — penalize US AI companies while ensuring Chinese dominance
American-led international framework — Lock in US advantages, prevent catastrophe, avoid domestic overreach
Only option three serves American and humanity interests.
Peter Thiel is rightly concerned that a bold global treaty could lead to a global authoritarianism (i.e. Anti-Christ) but not attempting to do a global treaty right is nearly guaranteed to lead to such an outcome if not to human extinction. We in fact explore in fine detail how to avoid that a treaty strong enough to prevent ASI will reliably prevent global authoritarianism.
Why Trump Would Listen to You and Be Swayed
Trump backed OpenAI's Project Stargate over Musk's xAI because you showed him the economic and political upside.
This is the same play: China wants coordination but can't propose first. If you propose, you set the terms. You're the president who prevented AI catastrophe while ensuring American AI leadership for generations. It's the ultimate deal. America First. American-led. American advantage locked in permanently. That pitch sells Trump. And you're the only one with the credibility to make it.
A 2024 University of Maryland survey found that 77% of U.S. voters support a strong international AI treaty. As of June 2025, 43% of US citizens are very or somewhat concerned that AI could "cause the end of the human race".
As of August, 76% of US voters believe artificial intelligence could eventually pose a threat to the existence of the human race.
Voters' concern and calls for an AI treaty are high and bound to increase.
Trump approval ratings are very low due to tariffs, the economy, jobs, scandals and wars, and are likely to continue to be so later this year.
So, he's likely hungry to achieve a big political win or even strike a masterful deal. AI accidents, ever more likely, can trigger the moment.
The Coalition Is Readying
You're not alone:
Vance has read the AI 2027 report, which described extinction risk as serious and urgent, and wants the Church to provide moral leadership
Bannon calls AI "the Apocalypse," demands immediate treaties to stop technofeudalism
Rubio holds formal treaty-making role, seeking his legacy-defining achievement
Gabbard understands catastrophic risk from intelligence perspective
Altman recognizes the race is suicidal and needs an exit.
Amodei warns constantly about losing control.
Hassabis is consistently calling for a strong global governance
They're waiting for the economic and strategic voice. They need you to show this serves American interests. They need you to make the business case.
The October Window
Trump meets Xi October 31st, with follow-up early 2026. These meetings will either set the stage for US-led coordination that locks in American leadership, or continue competitive racing toward catastrophe.
The outcome depends largely on whether you're advocating for the right path.
If key advisors align—Vance, Rubio, Gabbard, Bannon, and you—Trump moves. Without you, the economic case doesn't get made, Silicon Valley stays skeptical, and the politics don't work.
What We're Asking
Review the Strategic Memo — 130 pages of analysis on threat, treaty architecture, economic models, political strategy
Coordinate with other advisors — Vance, Rubio, Gabbard, Bannon are converging; you're the missing piece that makes it economically viable
Make the economic case — Show Trump and Silicon Valley that treaty framework locks in advantages rather than sacrificing them
The treaty succeeds or fails largely on whether you champion it. You're the bridge that makes it politically and economically viable.
The Legacy Question
You've had a successful career. Multiple ventures. Now AI and Crypto Czar. You've already built your resume. The question is what you'll be remembered for:
Option One: The AI Czar who efficiently managed America's race toward catastrophe, Chinese dominance, or surveillance state.
Option Two: The AI Czar who figured out how to lock in permanent American AI leadership while preventing catastrophe.
Both futures are possible. You're uniquely positioned to determine which happens.
The Pragmatist's Choice
This isn't about ideology. It's about strategic calculation in the face of unprecedented stakes and deep uncertainties.
The political window is opening. A potential coalition is awaiting. The economic logic is sound. The only question is whether you'll lead or watch from the sidelines.
The successor species you're worried about? This is how you prevent it from succeeding us involuntarily.
The government control you fear? This is how you design the system so it can't happen.
The American leadership you're securing? This is how you lock it in permanently.
All three goals require the same solution.
About Us
The Coalition consists of 10 international NGOs and 40 exceptional multidisciplinary advisors, team, board and secretariat members, including former top officials from WEF, NSA, UBS, UN, Yale and Princeton, and led by Rufo Guerreschi. The Coalition is also backed by leading NGOs and experts that supported our Open Calls, reports or advocacy seminars.
We are in a US Persuasion Tour that will take us to meet those Trump's AI influencers, and introducers to them. We'll be in the Bay Area (Oct 5-21), Washington, D.C. (Oct 21-24), the Vatican (Nov 5-20), Washington, D.C. (Dec 2-14), and Mar-a-Lago Area (Dec 16-22).
Main References
Strategic Memo for The Deal of the Century (Sep 24th, 2025)
Open Letters and Emails for Trump's AI influencers (Oct, 2025)
We invite you to review specific sections of the Memo:
17 Reasons Why Trump Could Be Persuaded (pp. 36-39)
A Treaty-Making Process that Can Succeed (pp. 18-24)
A Treaty Enforcement that Prevents both ASI and Authoritarianism (pp. 24-27)
Analysis of how several unsuspected potential Trump's AI influencers are much closer than you might think to join a critical mass to persuade Trump of a global AI treaty (pp. 40-55).
Analysis of the possible re-evaluation of deeply uncertain and competing risks by key potential influencers of Trump's AI policy (pp. 15-17 and pp. 84-91)
Our Ask
We are asking you and your team to review our proposal, and engage with other potential influencers to explore this unmatched opportunity. We'd be glad to meet you or your relevant staff in Washington DC (October 21-24th or December 2-14th) or in Mar-a-Lago Area (Dec 16-22).
Warm Regards,
The Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI