First talks between US and China to address AI ‘miscalculation’ risk

Chinese and US officials are set to meet in Geneva on Tuesday for the first dialogue on artificial intelligence, a topic agreed upon by Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping at a summit in San Francisco last year. The meeting comes after earlier discussions between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

US officials emphasized the importance of diplomacy in reducing the risk of miscalculation and unintended conflict in the realm of AI. They acknowledged the transformative potential of AI while also highlighting the need to manage risks and seize opportunities provided by advanced AI systems.

The meeting will focus on risk and safety, with discussions on AI norms, principles, and international governance. However, the US officials also expressed concerns about Chinese AI activities that could threaten American national security. They noted that China has made AI development a priority and is rapidly deploying capabilities in civilian and military areas that could undermine US and allied national security.

While the dialogue is not aimed at promoting technical collaboration or cooperation on frontier research between the two countries, it is seen as an opportunity to exchange views on global risks posed by rapid advances in AI. The talks are part of the outcomes from the San Francisco summit, which also saw the reopening of communication channels between the US and Chinese militaries and the creation of a working group to address the shipment of fentanyl ingredients from China to Mexico.

Despite these positive developments, tensions between the US and China persist, with issues such as Chinese military activity around Taiwan and US efforts to restrict Chinese access to advanced technology remaining contentious. The US is expected to announce a quadrupling of tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China and has recently added several Chinese groups to its “entity list,” making it harder for American companies to export technology to these entities.