China tightening grip on AI puts other countries at risk
Qiu ’23 [Benjamin and Dennis Kwok; December 8; Benjamin Qiu is a partner with the law firm Elliott Kwok Levine Jaroslaw Neils in New York specializing in Chinese cross-border disputes; Dennis Kwok is also a partner with the firm, co-leading its international disputes and China corporate advisory practice.; Nikkei Asia, “China tightening grip on AI puts other nations at risk” , https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-s-tightening-grip-on-AI-puts-other-nations-at-risk]
Since Beijing has already weaponized trade and other aspects of the country's economy against perceived Western containment and deployed and exported technologies to impair civil liberties, one can readily imagine the party using AI to further its agenda.
By some measures, in AI research output and quality. This can put national security and societal stability at risk in other countries.
2024 is slated to be the biggest election year in history, with more than half of the world's population -- over 4 billion people -- going to the polls. The open nature of democratic societies makes them especially vulnerable. We have seen how social media has helped spread disinformation and distorted elections. The misuse of AI by authoritarian regimes like China's could be exponentially more effective.
China's 2017 Next Generation AI Development Plan describes AI as a core strategic technology. Many of China's leading AI systems are being integrated into the country's domestic surveillance network and social credit system. In 2017, China also created the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development to direct the transfer of AI technology from commercial entities and research labs to the military.
China's nationalized AI industry will come in handy in preparations for military operations. The People's Liberation Army is reportedly experiencing difficulties in recruiting top AI talent from universities. It is not surprising that the best graduates would prefer higher pay and spending less time studying Xi Jinping Thought. Requiring AI companies to work with the government will enable the authorities to still tap their talents.
Through executive orders, the U.S. is reducing outflows of capital and hardware that could help fuel Chinese AI development and monitoring Chinese acquisition of local AI companies. Many of its allies might follow suit.
But even with a slower pace of innovation, China's whole-of-nation approach to tech strategy means that open societies could be vulnerable to AI-driven manipulation. A heightened state of alert is called for.