China's top spy chief has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence poses a significant threat to the ruling Communist Party's grip on power, characterizing AI as a new frontier for geopolitical rivalry. Minister of State Security Chen Yixin stated in an article published Sunday that "hostile forces" are exploiting generative AI to "fabricate political rumors and spread harmful information," directly endangering China's political, institutional, and ideological security.
Chen, writing in the state-run magazine China Cyberspace, called for increased party control and government oversight of AI development. He described AI as "the main battleground for global technological competition and a new track for major power strategic rivalry." While not focusing on existential risks, Chen singled out AI models like Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT for their potential to pose serious risks to China's critical information infrastructure due to advanced hacking capabilities. He also noted that foreign intelligence agencies are leveraging AI for data collection on sensitive national information, trade secrets, and personal privacy.
The remarks come as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is slated to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, with AI governance expected to be a topic of discussion. Chen emphasized the need for China to "ensure independent control of key core technologies," including the computer chips essential for AI training, to safeguard its technological sovereignty.
China's security agency has previously voiced concerns about AI, but Chen's latest statements represent a comprehensive articulation of Beijing's growing apprehension. He warned that AI lowers the barriers for cyberattacks and that reliance on foreign AI models could lead to large-scale data leaks. The influence of AI in modern warfare, as seen in the U.S.-Iran conflict, was also highlighted as a factor offering battlefield advantages.
Meanwhile, the debate over AI's rapid advancement is also gaining traction among U.S. tech leaders and political figures. Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at both OpenAI and Anthropic, recently resigned, warning that neither company is acting responsibly and that the race towards self-improving superintelligence is a gamble with humanity's future. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei echoed these concerns, citing the accelerating pace of AI development through recursive self-improvement and the potential for AI-driven cybersecurity incidents.
However, Donald Trump has publicly downplayed fears of AI-driven catastrophe. He stated during a visit to Ireland that "a lot of very negative forces" are raising unfounded concerns. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that the U.S. possesses a "strong and smart" leader capable of providing necessary AI control and guardrails. He also characterized Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei as an "AI alarmist" and alleged a "sick conspiracy" against AI data centers that benefits China.