China has dismissed calls for the United States to block its artificial intelligence industry, labeling such warnings as fearmongering. The friction follows an essay by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who called for a global slowdown in AI capabilities and urged Washington to actively impede Beijing's advancement to maintain a technological edge. Amodei warned that a Chinese lead in AI would pose a grave danger to the United States and the world.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and state media accused leading US AI executives of using these warnings to blunt competition from China. Beijing described the push as a self-serving effort to preserve American dominance and argued that concerns regarding grave threats to humanity are instead aimed at slowing China's progress as a rival superpower.
However, China's own security apparatus has expressed similar concerns regarding the technology. The nation's top intelligence official delivered a detailed warning stating that rapid advances in AI could threaten political stability, critical infrastructure, and the security of the Communist Party. This internal framing exists even as Beijing urges the United States not to hype the dangers of AI.
Despite the diplomatic tension and accusations of technological dominance strategies, Chinese state media noted that all groups should work together to promote AI openness and inclusivity.