AI Out of Nuclear Launch Decisions, Say US and China
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US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reached an agreement that neither country will relinquish control of its nuclear weapons to artificial intelligence, the White House announced Saturday.
"It’s an important statement about the intersection of artificial intelligence and nuclear doctrine, and it is a reflection of how, even with the competition between the US and the PRC, we could work on a responsible basis to manage risk in vital areas," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters following the meeting, using the acronym for China's formal name.
Sullivan clarified that the agreement wasn't prompted by an immediate threat of either nation handing over nuclear control to AI. Instead, it recognizes both countries' leading roles in the development of this rapidly evolving technology.
“A good place to start is with the straightforward proposition that there should be human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons,” Sullivan stated.
This agreement, reached during what's anticipated to be Biden and Xi's final meeting at the APEC summit in Lima, comes despite ongoing disagreements between the two nations. The White House acknowledged continuing differences over US export controls on advanced semiconductors vital for various applications, including AI development.