US and China need shared risk vocabulary to manage AI threats: Beijing-linked think tank

The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), linked to the Ministry of State Security, has advised that the United States and China should first establish a common language for discussing AI risks before attempting to resolve their broader technology rivalry. This recommendation follows Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump's recent agreement to formalize an AI dialogue mechanism during their summit in Washington.

The dialogue will involve exchanging views on AI risks and benefits, as well as establishing a bilateral communication channel for AI-related incidents.

Liu Chong, director of CICIR's Centre for Sci-Tech and Strategic Studies, suggests that the dialogue should begin with building a shared understanding of emerging AI risks and gradually fostering trust between the two sides. He argues that the rapid development of artificial intelligence means there is no clear dividing line between safe and unsafe technology, and proposes a system of "risk changes and response levels" instead of seeking an abstract "red line".

Liu asserts that effective international governance should prioritize mutual knowledge over comprehensive rule books, emphasizing the need for shared terminology and common understandings of dangerous autonomy, such as when model behavior should be treated as a security incident.

The CICIR call for a shared understanding of AI risks comes amid ongoing competition between the two countries over advanced technology. Washington has tightened restrictions on China's access to advanced chips and AI capabilities, while Beijing has called for international cooperation on AI instead. Liu acknowledges the tension but emphasizes the importance of preserving enough "trust space" to cooperate while the technological competition between the US and China continues or intensifies.

He suggests that the goal of dialogue should be to establish a minimum framework for managing risks that can survive even as the US-China technological competition continues or intensifies.