US and China to Discuss AI Safety Alongside Risk

This week, the United States and the Chinese government will enter into diplomatic discussions in Geneva, which will mark the beginning of a series of dialogues concerning artificial intelligence risk and safety standards

The fact that both nations, which are antagonistic to each other, are willing to engage in diplomatic negotiations is crucial since they are both competing fiercely to lead the global AI market, both in the private sector and through their respective governments.

Despite their technological prowess, they have yet to agree on what constitutes safe and responsible usage of the AI technology they are developing.

Officials from the White House and State Department of the United States will preside over the negotiations on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland. At the same time, delegations from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission will represent the country.

The discussions will focus on AI risk and safety, emphasizing advanced systems. Furthermore, representatives from both sides intend to exchange insights on the domestic efforts in their respective countries to address AI dangers.

It is crucial to emphasize that while these conversations are a vital beginning toward fostering dialogue between the two governments, their primary goal is to exchange early opinions on the technical threats posed by AI technology.

As a result, no unified statement or other “deliverables” are anticipated to emerge from the discussions.

The discussions are not expected to involve technical coordination or cooperation in frontier research. The US government’s rules preventing some technologies from reaching China are likewise not up to negotiation, at least not formally.

Observing how the two tackle topics such as how AI can exacerbate China-linked election involvement will be intriguing. Another relevant topic of debate is the US-imposed sanctions and the US’s efforts to persuade other countries to impose similar penalties on Chinese companies. Although neither of these topics is officially on the agenda, they will almost certainly be discussed.

If data and data sovereignty are raised, US and Chinese delegates may be required to address the TikTok and ByteDance mess.

In a notable step, the UN obtained China’s co-sponsorship of a recent AI resolution in the UN General Assembly in March.

Furthermore, sources indicate that the UN is considering restricting access to the most powerful AI models in China, Russia, and other adversarial states.

Looking at the big picture, the UN and China’s safety regulations will likely create a precedent for other countries worldwide. As both governments work to implement AI technologies in different areas, including their militaries, their methods will affect worldwide AI policies and practices.