The US and China are Meeting This Week to Talk AI Safety

The United States and the People’s Republic of China are scheduled to meet in Geneva this Tuesday to discuss the management of societal risks associated with artificial intelligence. This dialogue stems from a prior agreement between President Joe Biden of the US and President Xi Jinping of China, established during their meeting last fall. The discussions aim to address the safety and risks of AI-enabled systems amidst concerns over their expansive use.

While the two nations acknowledge AI’s significance to their national and economic futures, the upcoming meetings are intended purely as an exchange of views on the technical risks posed by AI systems. According to a senior Biden administration official in a briefing last Friday, the talks will not result in any formal deliverables or agreements. Additionally, the meetings will exclude discussions on potential collaboration or information sharing between the US and China.

The administration remains wary of China’s rapid deployment of AI capabilities across its civilian, military, and national security sectors, often in ways that the US believes could undermine both American and allied national security.

The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon.
If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.