U.S. Officials Flag Concerns Over China’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Bilateral Talks

U.S. Officials Flag Concerns Over China’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in First Bilateral Talks

In their first formal bilateral talks on artificial intelligence, U.S. officials raised concerns over China’s “misuse” of the technology, the White House reported on Wednesday. The discussions, held in Geneva, highlighted the need for open lines of communication on AI risk and safety as the superpowers navigate the competitive landscape.

According to White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, the United States emphasized the importance of responsibly managing competition in the AI space. Worries have been growing among U.S. officials regarding China’s access to AI technology, with fears that it could be exploited for malicious purposes such as interfering in elections, developing bioweapons, and launching cyberattacks.

The State Department has pushed for assurances from China and Russia that only humans, not artificial intelligence, would be responsible for decisions on deploying nuclear weapons. Additionally, President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly planning to implement measures to safeguard U.S. AI from China and Russia by imposing guardrails around advanced AI models.

In a bipartisan effort, U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill to facilitate the imposition of export controls on AI models, while a group of senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, has called for increased government funding for AI research and new legal protections.

The United States has already taken steps to restrict the flow of American AI chips to China and proposed a rule requiring U.S. cloud companies to report when foreign clients use their services to train powerful AI models that could pose cybersecurity risks. Meanwhile, China has been relying on Western-developed open source models like Meta Platforms’ “Llama” series, and American AI chips are increasingly making their way into the country.

As the debate over AI regulation and oversight continues, both the U.S. and China are navigating the delicate balance between competition and collaboration in the evolving AI landscape.

(Source: Reuters, Image: Protesters carrying balloons during a march on International Workers’ Day in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo/Matias Basualdo)