China’s intelligence chief has warned that artificial intelligence could pose major risks to the country’s political security, critical infrastructure, data, social stability and military capabilities, calling for stronger controls over AI development.
Chen Yixin, China’s minister of state security, identified six major AI risks in an article published in China Cyberspace, a journal run by the Cyberspace Administration of China. His top concern was “regime security,” with Chen warning that deepfakes, AI-generated content and automated online networks could spread political rumors, harmful information and cognitive warfare, threatening China’s political, institutional and ideological security, reported Business Insider on Sunday.
Six AI Risks
Chen also warned that AI could make cyberattacks against critical infrastructure more efficient. He cited the risk of large-scale data leaks involving national data, trade secrets and citizens’ personal information.
Other risks included technological imbalances caused by monopolies and closed technology systems, disruptions to social governance and public order, and changes in warfare as AI-powered precision targeting gives adversaries battlefield advantages.
Chen called for stronger “developmental guidelines” for AI and urged Beijing to accelerate a security risk prevention and control system. China should promote the “healthy and orderly development” of AI through “high-efficiency governance,” according to the report.
AI Race And Safety
The warning comes as concerns over advanced AI risks intensify internationally. Anthropic researcher Evan Hubinger recently said he personally puts the odds of AI wiping out humanity within a decade above 10%, while warning that the industry does not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has separately described China as the “toughest dilemma” in efforts to slow AI development, citing the military advantages countries can gain by moving ahead. He has called for greater coordination between AI companies and governments.
Chen said AI should be developed “with the wellbeing of all humanity as its guiding principle.” He also called for resistance to “hegemonism, technological barriers, and exclusive blocs” and for a “fair and open international AI rules system.”
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