Technological Entanglement? -- Artificial Intelligence in the U.S.-China Relationship - Jamestown

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a new arena for engagement and competition between the United States and China. In July, China's State Council published the New Generation AI Development Plan (新一代人工智能发展规划) which declared, "AI has become a new focal point of international competition. AI is a strategic technology that will lead the future," articulating China's ambition to "lead the world" and become the "premier AI innovation center" by 2030 (State Council, July 20). Perhaps recognizing that a new era has begun, the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) published in mid-December announced, "To maintain our competitive advantage, the United States will prioritize emerging technologies critical to economic growth and security" (National Security Strategy, December 18). In particular, the NSS highlights that AI is advancing especially rapidly and could present growing risks to U.S. national security going forward, while characterizing China as a "strategic competitor" that unfairly seeks to "unfairly tap into [U.S.] innovation" through the theft of intellectual property and "cyber-enabled economic warfare." Concurrently, the U.S. and China are pursuing military applications of AI, recognizing its potential to transform the character of future conflict (State Council, July 20; Battlefield Singularity, November 28).