China’s Premier Li Qiang has emphasized the importance of balancing artificial intelligence development with security risks, calling for urgent global consensus. This comes amid an ongoing tech rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Li’s comments follow US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a low-regulation strategy to bolster US AI dominance. Speaking at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Li stressed the need for governance and open-source AI development, and announced the creation of a Chinese-led international AI cooperation body.
Li highlighted the widespread attention AI risks have garnered, stressing the urgent need for societal consensus on balancing development and security. He noted China’s commitment to promoting open-source AI and its willingness to share advancements, especially with developing countries. Li warned against technological monopolies, advocating for openness and fairness to ensure broader access to AI benefits.
He pointed out that limited computing power and chips are significant challenges. The US has increased efforts to restrict advanced chip exports to China, fearing they could enhance Beijing’s military capabilities. Meanwhile, China is striving for technological self-reliance, with government initiatives supporting AI growth. A Chinese startup, DeepSeek, recently developed an AI model rivaling top US systems with less powerful chips.
As AI continues to permeate various industries, ethical concerns arise, including misinformation, employment impacts, and potential loss of technological control. Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton likened the situation to taming a potentially dangerous pet. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized AI governance as a critical test of international cooperation. French AI envoy Anne Bouverot highlighted the urgent need for global action, while the US and UK cautioned against excessive regulation.
