Washington (CNN) A Texas Republican and former CIA officer warned Sunday that the US must lead on artificial intelligence or the nation will see its economy fall behind.

"This is going to be the future economy," Texas GOP Rep. Will Hurd said on CNN's "State of the Union" with Jake Tapper. "And if we're not leading on that, China is going to, and that is going to impact our economy and that is going to impact our jobs."

Hurd's interview with CNN in Texas came as Hurd joined the SXSW conference there to talk about a national strategy for artificial intelligence.

"It's the future," Hurd said. "Vladimir Putin said whoever masters AI is going to master the world. I think this is the only thing he and I agree on."

Hurd warned that artificial intelligence would affect "every industry" and cited agriculture and transportation as two fast-evolving sectors.

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