Contrary to the common misconception that China and the United States cannot cooperate on artificial intelligence, the two countries can work together on a mutually beneficial basis, as both have a vested interest in ensuring that the technology is not misused, according to a US business leader.
In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, said that as the world’s two most technologically advanced countries, closer cooperation on AI safety could become a critical stabilizing force in bilateral relations.
“The safety side is really important,” Stein said. “That’s where we can have a meaningful conversation, because both countries have got a definite interest in preventing hackers from manipulating AI to attack financial systems, steal data or endanger critical infrastructure.”
Stein called for the establishment of a communication mechanism on AI to promote cooperation, noting that Washington and Beijing had previously established a dialogue and hotline to communicate on major cybersecurity incidents. He said the model could be applied to AI, an area where potential threats are far greater.
“It was important then, but it’s even more important now,” he said.
On business ties, Stein said cooperation between US and Chinese companies was unlikely to be reversed by geopolitical tensions.
“The countries with the most innovative companies on the planet are the United States and China,” he said. “As for the innovations that US companies are doing, Chinese companies want to work with that. And for the innovations happening in China, US companies want to take advantage of that.”
He said such cooperation is “not limited to one industry or two industries or three industries”, but reflected a conscious effort by companies on both sides to learn from each other and find partners globally.
According to Stein, there could be a long list of areas for closer cooperation, including life sciences, drug development, new materials and advanced research into power generation.
Acknowledging security concerns and the need for guardrails, he said smart companies proceed thoughtfully to protect national security.
“There may be geopolitical turbulence,” he said. “Sometimes that kind of collaboration is difficult, but that kind of collaboration continues to happen, because it is an interest of both countries, and that brings prosperity to both countries. So I think that’s a trend of history that just can’t really be reversed.”
Stein’s view that AI has the potential to drive greater economic cooperation was echoed by business figures in the sector.
Kai-Fu Lee, a prominent AI expert and CEO of Beijing-based AI startup 01.AI, said AI will be a powerful driver of the global economy, creating trillions of dollars in value from which both Chinese and American companies will benefit.
Chinese companies are not only continuously improving their AI models but also actively open-sourcing them so that the technology can benefit everyone, Lee said.
It is possible for US and Chinese companies to move forward and advance together in AI, Lee said. Ultimately, companies in both countries will reach similar levels of technological development, which will naturally provide a basis and set standards for mutual cooperation, he added.
Zhou Xinhong, vice-president of information technology company HP China, said China’s combination of industrial scale, digital infrastructure and willingness to adopt AI has created a market that is difficult to replicate elsewhere, making it a key testing ground for industry-specific AI applications.
Contact the writer at masi@chinadaily.com.cn
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