China has criticized narratives of "threat, confrontation, and malicious competition" regarding artificial intelligence governance, advocating instead for international cooperation. The comments from China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday came after industry leaders in the US raised concerns about the potential existential risks of AI and called for a slowdown in its development.
Guo stated that such narratives "disrupt the process of global AI governance and are not in anyone's interest." He urged all parties to "work together to advance AI in a manner that is open, inclusive, beneficial to all, and oriented toward the good." These remarks underscore the challenges in achieving consensus between the United States and China, the two leading nations in AI development.
The rivalry between the US and China, the world's largest economies, has placed AI at the center of their competition for technological dominance. Despite US export restrictions on critical chips, Chinese AI innovation has continued to grow, bolstered by open-source technologies and government support.
While many experts believe the US currently maintains an edge in AI, Chinese firms are striving to close the gap, facing difficulties in securing the substantial investments flowing into American AI companies. Simultaneously, Beijing acknowledges the risks associated with AI. Chinese state security minister Chen Yixin wrote on Sunday that China must "balance development and security," implement relevant laws and ethical guidelines, and strengthen risk prevention to "safeguard the interests of the people and national security." He also warned of the potential for "hostile forces" to exploit AI, calling for international cooperation.
There are indications that both Washington and Beijing understand the risks at the frontier of AI. Some analysts suggest China has technical reasons to engage with the US, as it could provide insights into how its models perform internationally and help identify vulnerabilities.
China established the World AI Cooperation Organization in July, aiming to influence global AI governance. Additionally, Chinese leader Xi Jinping proposed creating a community for open-source AI during the BRICS summit. These initiatives coincide with increasing calls for AI regulation in the US, following warnings from figures like former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxson, who suggested a significant risk of catastrophic outcomes if development continues at its current pace.
Industry leaders such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have called for a regulated slowdown, with OpenAI's chief executive Sam Altman emphasizing the need for safety techniques to keep pace with model capabilities. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella echoed this sentiment, stating that AI development "cannot be controlled by a handful of entities."
In contrast, US President Donald Trump has downplayed AI's risks, asserting that the priority is for the US to lead in AI development, stating, "whoever wins AI, wins." The competitive dynamic is intense, with former Anthropic employee Coxson advocating for a "coordinated slowdown with China" to prevent an international AI race.
Preparations are underway for upcoming high-level discussions between the US and China, potentially including AI on the agenda during President Trump's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng are also expected to discuss AI-related matters. He oversees China's economic planning, which includes AI development.
Experts highlight the significant stakes for both nations. If China were to establish a decisive lead in advanced AI, it would be viewed in Washington not merely as losing a technological race but as a potential loss of strategic infrastructure for the next industrial era.