China | Technology and power

Is Xi Jinping an AI doomer?

China’s elite is split over artificial intelligence

An angel robot and a devil robot sitting on Xi 's shoulders, the devil robot whispering in his ears
Illustration: Alva Skog

IN JULY last year Henry Kissinger travelled to Beijing for the final time before his death. Among the messages he delivered to China’s ruler, Xi Jinping, was a warning about the catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence (AI). Since then American tech bosses and ex-government officials have quietly met their Chinese counterparts in a series of informal gatherings dubbed the Kissinger Dialogues. The conversations have focused in part on how to protect the world from the dangers of AI. American and Chinese officials are thought to have also discussed the subject (along with many others) when America’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, visited Beijing from August 27th to 29th.

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