Key facts
- China has dismissed calls from AI industry leaders to slow down AI development.
- Beijing characterized the warnings as 'fearmongering' and a 'Cold War playbook'.
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, supported by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, advocated for a deliberate slowdown in AI model improvement.
- President Donald Trump stated his priority is for the US to lead China in AI.
- Chinese State Security Minister Chen Yixin acknowledged AI security risks and called for international cooperation.
China has rejected calls from AI industry leaders and some governments to slow down the development of artificial intelligence, dismissing the warnings as 'fearmongering' and a tactic to hinder its progress. The stance highlights a divergence in global approaches to AI regulation and safety, with Beijing viewing the concerns as part of a geopolitical competition rather than a genuine effort to safeguard humanity.
In a lengthy essay, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, with endorsements from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, urged companies to deliberately 'slow the pace' of AI model improvement due to potential catastrophic risks. Amodei also suggested that a Chinese lead in AI would pose a 'grave danger' to the United States and the world, and called for restrictions on tech sales to China.
However, Beijing has countered these calls. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that 'fearmongering, confrontation and malicious competition will only disrupt the process of global AI governance.' The state-run Global Times newspaper described the slowdown calls as a 'Cold War playbook' targeting China. While acknowledging AI security risks, China's State Security Minister Chen Yixin emphasized the need to 'accelerate the establishment of a system for preventing and controlling AI security risks' and to 'engage extensively in international cooperation,' identifying AI as a new arena for strategic rivalry.
US President Donald Trump has also rebuffed safety concerns, stating his focus is on ensuring the US leads China in AI development. He criticized 'very negative forces' for raising issues he believes 'won't happen.' This approach contrasts with the calls for international coordination made by some US tech leaders.