The United States and China are meeting in Geneva to discuss developments in artificial intelligence. Washington has emphasized that its policy will not be compromised, even as the talks explore ways to mitigate the risks posed by technological advancements, according to Reuters.
The administration of President Joe Biden has sought to engage China in multiple discussions to reduce misunderstandings between the two conflicting countries.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China broached the topic of artificial intelligence in Beijing in April, agreeing to hold their first official bilateral talks on the matter.
The State Department has pressured China and Russia to affirm that humans, not artificial intelligence, make decisions regarding the spread of nuclear weapons.
A senior official in the administration stated regarding giving the United States priority in the nuclear weapons issue, “This is a first-of-its-kind meeting, and we expect a discussion of a full range of risks, despite our inability to control any details at this stage.”
The official noted that China’s rapid deployment of artificial intelligence capabilities across vital, military, and national security sectors often threatens the security of the United States and its allies, indicating that the talks allow Washington to express its concerns.
The official said, “Discussions with Beijing do not revolve around enhancing any form of technical cooperation by any means. Our policies on protecting technology are non-negotiable.”
Reuters reported that the Biden administration plans to protect American artificial intelligence models used in popular chatbots, such as ChatGPT, from foreign espionage and technological theft, especially by countries like China and Russia.
Washington and Beijing are striving to set rules regarding artificial intelligence, yet each also looks to explore the possibility of all countries adopting some of these rules.
There are no agreements between countries on numerous uses and issues related to artificial intelligence. However, Washington believes that communication about the critical risks of artificial intelligence may help increase global security.
Tarun Chhabra, a official at the US National Security Council, and Seth Center, acting Special Envoy for the State Department on biotech and emerging technology, are leading discussions with officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the State Council, and the National Development and Reform Commission.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to issue recommendations in the coming weeks to address risks related to artificial intelligence, with Schumer indicating that these recommendations will later be transformed into detailed legislation.
Schumer pointed out the competition with China and the diverse goals in artificial intelligence, which include surveillance and facial recognition. This is a reason for Washington’s need to expedite the establishment of regulations governing advanced technology.
Chinese authorities stress the need to develop controllable artificial intelligence technology within the country.
