We need the same speed as the race for the atomic bomb. Instead of the Germans it's the Chinese this time. They do not care about the stakes either.
As for risk taking, the good results are worth the risk. Not everyone is cut out to kill the dragon to get the gold and save their people. AI is just a tool like the internet, only a million time more powerful to do good or evil.
The solution for powerful tools falling into evil hands is to cut off all the evil hands, not pretending the evil hands are not already on the powerful tools. It's been this way since the beginning of time.