Chinese Advisers Highlight AI’s Security Risks, Urge Balanced Regulation
Beijing – Political advisers in China are urging caution against overregulation of the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, even as the country embraces new AI technologies like the Chinese-developed chatbot DeepSeek. The warning comes ahead of the annual parliamentary meetings, known as the “two sessions,” which begin on Tuesday.
Photo: Xinhua
During discussions, members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, addressed the ongoing debate about the emerging technology. According to reports from state-owned China News Service, CPPCC member Zhou Hongyi, the co-founder and chairman of internet security firm Qihoo 360, emphasized that falling behind in the AI race presents the most significant risk.
“We should neither exaggerate nor ignore security issues related to AI,” Zhou stated. He further cautioned against what he described as attempts by leading US AI companies to use security concerns to justify withholding open-source products, thereby hindering the progress of “latecomers.”
Zhou stressed the importance of a nuanced understanding of AI security issues for China. “Falling behind in [AI] development is the biggest security risk,” he remarked, underscoring the need to seize the opportunity to boost productivity and ensure equitable benefits from scientific and technological advancements.
