US-China Begin Joint Discussions on Managing AI Technology Risks in High-Level Talks

Discussion on Measures to Prevent AI Technology Threats in Geneva

The United States and China held their first government-level talks on managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). This is the first high-level US-China meeting aimed at jointly addressing the increasingly sophisticated risks of AI technology.

According to the Associated Press on the 14th (local time), senior US-China delegations held a closed-door meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss ways to ensure that AI technology does not become an existential threat. This meeting follows the agreement made during the US-China summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping near San Francisco last year.

The White House previously announced the list of delegates for this high-level meeting, including Tarun Chhabra, US President’s Special Assistant and Senior Director for Technology and National Security at the White House, stating that "the two governments will exchange views on how to understand and address the risks of advanced AI systems."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, the military use of AI emerged as a possible agenda item during this meeting. A senior US government official stated, "China has made AI development a key national priority, rapidly allocating capabilities across civilian, military, and national security sectors, which has weakened the security of the US and its allies."

Experts evaluate that this meeting could provide an opportunity to glimpse China’s stance on AI technology. Jason Glassberg, co-founder of US security firm Kasaba Security, said, "One of the biggest current risk areas is deepfakes used in disinformation campaigns," adding, "This poses a significant risk not only to the US government but also to China."

Paul Scharre, an executive at the US think tank Center for a New American Security and a military expert, also warned, "It is very important for the two countries to start frank discussions on improving AI safety," emphasizing, "The risk of accidents related to AI is very high, and the consequences could be very serious."