The White House has announced that high-level talks will be held with Beijing regarding advanced artificial intelligence systems. The discussions will focus on the security and risks associated with these systems, according to White House officials.
The Biden administration has set the expectations low for the talks, clarifying that they are not aimed at promoting technical cooperation between the United States and China on AI or emerging technologies. A senior administration official has raised concerns about China’s use of AI for anti-democratic purposes, stating that Beijing’s use of advanced AI technologies undermines national security, citing recent reports of China-linked cyberattacks using AI to escalate social tensions in the U.S.
Despite the strained relations between the two countries, Washington and Beijing have been opening new channels of communication on AI and its impact on critical infrastructure, private industry, and human rights. Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping discussed AI, security issues, and Taiwan during a recent phone call, marking a return to regular talks between the two leaders.
Biden and Xi will not personally participate in the upcoming discussions. Instead, senior White House officials and their Chinese counterparts will share their views on the risks associated with advanced AI systems and discuss the roles of both countries in international AI governance.
Both the U.S. and China have been working on AI regulations and initiatives in recent years. The U.S. has secured commitments from leading AI developers to responsibly build and deploy AI technologies, while China has plans to further regulate AI throughout 2024.
