China, US envoys to hold first high-level dialogue on artificial intelligence in Geneva

GENEVA – High-level envoys from the United States and China are expected to meet in Geneva on Tuesday for talks on artificial intelligence, including the risks of the rapidly evolving technology and ways to establish shared standards to manage it.

The meeting, billed as an initial exchange of views, is the first under an intergovernmental dialogue on AI agreed during a multi-faceted meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. , in November.

Both the US and China consider AI crucial to national security and economic growth, with Biden administration officials saying they plan to focus on developing safe and reliable AI. Authorities insisted on anonymity to anticipate the telephone meeting with reporters.

They also said the US would outline how it is addressing potential risks from the technology, creating voluntary commitments with leading companies in the sector and requiring safety testing of AI products.

The US government also considers that China’s AI efforts could undermine the national security of the United States and its allies, and Washington has been competing to stay ahead of Beijing in the use of AI in weapons systems.

China’s official news agency Xinhua, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the two sides would address issues including the technological risks of AI and global governance.

Sam Bresnick, a researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said both the US and China are investing heavily in AI for civilian and military applications, but China has been “reluctant” to discuss the risks surrounding AI. IA ​​with the United States. .

“These meetings represent an opportunity for U.S. officials to get a better sense of China’s approach to defining and mitigating AI risks,” Bresnick, who focuses on AI applications and Chinese technology policy, said in an email.

He downplayed any immediate prospect of binding agreements to alleviate the risks associated with AI, but the talks “can help both sides build trust” and understanding around AI issues.

The National Security Council at the White House said the US team is being led by Presidential Advisor and Senior Director for Technology and National Security Tarun Chhabra and US State Department Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technologies Seth Center.

The meeting underscores the broader race by governments around the world to figure out how to control artificial intelligence, even as the technology advances rapidly and is poised to transform many aspects of everyday life, from education and the workplace to human rights. author and piracy.

Government leaders from several countries are expected to meet in Seoul next week for the second edition of talks on the security of cutting-edge AI models, following a first round last year at a former wartime code-breaking base in Great Britain.

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Josh Boak in Washington, Emily Wang in Beijing and Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report.