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The United States and China are set to discuss the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) in a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. U.S. officials have emphasized that their AI policies are not up for negotiation, focusing instead on mitigating potential threats from the rapidly advancing technology.
This marks the first formal bilateral discussion on AI between the two countries, following a conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in April.
The U.S. delegation, including officials from the White House, State Department, Commerce Department, and National Security Council (NSC), aims to address a wide range of AI-related risks.
While the specific agenda remains undisclosed, the U.S. has previously pressed China and Russia to adopt a similar stance on ensuring human control over decisions regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons.
A senior administration official highlighted China's swift deployment of AI capabilities across various sectors, potentially compromising the security of the U.S. and its allies.
The talks will provide a platform for Washington to directly communicate these concerns. However, the official clarified that the discussions will not involve any form of technical collaboration or cooperation on frontier research, and U.S. technology protection policies will not be compromised.
Both countries are competing to shape the rules around AI, but the U.S. hopes to explore common ground on regulations that could be embraced globally. While acknowledging differing views on many AI topics, U.S. officials believe that open communication about critical AI risks can contribute to a safer world.
NSC official Tarun Chhabra and Seth Center, the State Department's acting special envoy for critical and emerging technology, will lead the U.S. delegation in talks with officials from China's Foreign Ministry and state planner.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, plans to release recommendations in the coming weeks to address AI risks, followed by piecemeal legislation. He emphasizes the need for Washington to take a leading role in AI lawmaking, citing competition with China and its differing AI goals, including surveillance and facial recognition applications.
Chinese authorities have also underscored the importance of developing their own "controllable" AI technology.
