Sino-US talks on AI are off to positive start
- Talks between China and the United States on the future development of artificial intelligence have been constructive
Agreement has not yet been reached, but the world should take heart that the United States and China recently met to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) – an issue with profound global implications.
The Geneva talks were the first intergovernmental exchange since leaders of the world’s two largest economies agreed to cooperate on reducing risks and improving governance of the technology.
The high-level delegations exchanged views “constructively” at the May 14 meeting, according to readouts from both sides. China’s foreign ministry said both delegations reaffirmed a commitment to implementing the consensus President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden reached in November in San Francisco.
A US National Security Council spokeswoman said Washington’s representatives stressed the importance of harnessing the benefits of AI for sustainable development and the need to build global consensus to ensure AI systems are “safe, secure and trustworthy”.
US delegates raised concerns over the misuse of AI, including by China, as it affirmed the need to maintain open lines of communication on AI risk and safety as part of “responsibly managing competition”.
China’s delegates said Beijing had stuck to a principle that AI technology should be people-centred and used for good and laid out a “solemn position” regarding US restrictions on AI.