Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for global cooperation to balance artificial intelligence development with security concerns at the World AI Conference in Shanghai. Li warned that without cooperation, AI could become controlled by just a few countries or companies, and stressed the importance of openness, sharing, and fairness in accessing AI benefits.
Li highlighted the challenges posed by AI, including insufficient computing power and chips, which are crucial for AI development. The US has expanded its efforts to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, citing concerns that these can be used to advance Beijing's military systems and erode US tech dominance.
The premier announced the establishment of a Chinese-led body for international AI cooperation, aiming to promote governance and open-source development. Li also emphasized China's willingness to share AI advances with other countries, particularly developing ones.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres weighed in on the issue, saying AI governance would be "a defining test of international cooperation". French President's AI envoy Anne Bouverot echoed this sentiment, underscoring the urgent need for global action.
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Geoffrey Hinton compared the situation to keeping "a very cute tiger cub as a pet", emphasizing the need for careful management to avoid future harm. China's commitment to AI development is evident in its plans for technological self-reliance, with the government pledging measures to boost the sector.
The global AI landscape is complex, with differing views on regulation. While 58 countries, including China, France, and India, called for enhanced coordination on AI governance at an AI summit in Paris, the US warned against "excessive regulation" and refused to sign the summit's appeal for "open", "inclusive", and "ethical" AI.
