GENEVA (AP) — Top envoys from the U.S. and China huddled in closed-door talks in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss ways to ensure that emerging artificial intelligence technologies don’t become existential risks.
The talks, which Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping agreed to launch in last 2023, are meant to open up bilateral dialogue between the world’s two biggest economies — and increasingly, geopolitical rivals — on a fast-moving technology that already has consequences for trade, lifestyles, culture, politics, national security and defense and much more.
While advancing the development of AI, the US has not lost sight of the risks associated with the emerging technology. The US National AI Advisory Committee has listed the misuse and abuse of AI, disruptions to economy and society, interventions in the democratic process, and uncontrollable weapons as the main risks and challenges.
By comparison, China places more importance on AI’s role in promoting socioeconomic development, and is cautious about its military use.
U.S. technology experts say the meeting — led on the American side by high-level White House and State Department officials — could offer a glimpse into Beijing’s thinking about AI amid a generally tight-lipped Chinese approach to the technology.
中美举行人工智能政府间对话首次会议
2024年5月14日，中美人工智能政府间对话首次会议在瑞士日内瓦举行。会议由中国外交部北美大洋洲司司长杨涛和美国国务院关键和新兴技术代理特使森特、白宫国安会技术和国家安全高级主任查布拉共同主持，中方科技部、发改委、国家网信办、工信部、中央外办以及美方白宫国安会、国务院、商务部派人参加。双方围绕人工智能科技风险、全球治理、各自关切的其他问题深入、专业、建设性地交换了意见。
双方介绍了各自对人工智能技术风险的看法和治理举措以及推动人工智能赋能经济社会发展采取的措施。中方强调人工智能技术是当前最受关注的新兴科技，中方始终坚持以人为本、智能向善理念，确保人工智能技术有益、安全、公平。中方支持加强人工智能全球治理，主张发挥联合国主渠道作用，愿同包括美方在内的国际社会加强沟通协调，形成具有广泛共识的全球人工智能治理框架和标准规范。中方就美方在人工智能领域对华限制打压表明严正立场。
双方均认识到人工智能技术发展既面临机遇也存在风险，重申继续致力于落实两国元首在旧金山达成的重要共识。