‘China already has spies’ at US AI labs, claims ex-Anthropic researcher

Former researcher Jacob Coxon expressed a 90 percent certainty that Chinese spies were embedded within prominent US artificial intelligence (AI) companies, Anthropic and OpenAI. Coxon made the claim during an interview on the PBD Podcast, suggesting that China could swiftly bridge any technological gaps by stealing advancements from leading US AI labs.

He stressed that China's surveillance tactics could allow the nation to swiftly catch up, even if the US maintained a lead at any given moment. When questioned about the accuracy of this claim, Coxon stated with confidence, "Ninety per cent. Yeah, it's almost certain that they have."

Critics, including Paul Triolo, a specialist on China's technology policy and cybersecurity, denounced Coxon's comments as irresponsible. The expert argued that such remarks could create unnecessary anxiety within the US AI sector, which heavily relies on Chinese talent. In fact, Chinese researchers comprised 38 percent of top AI talent in the US, closely followed by American researchers at 37 percent, according to MacroPolo think tank data.

This statistic marked a slight shift from three years prior, when Chinese researchers represented 27 percent of top AI talent in the US, compared to 31 percent for Americans.

The allegations emerged amid recent discussions between the United States and China, as both nations agreed to initiate an AI dialogue aimed at addressing the technology's risks and benefits. The forthcoming round of talks is scheduled for November, alongside the establishment of a bilateral communication channel to discuss AI-related incidents.

Coxon himself resigned from Anthropic in September, expressing concerns over the rapid pace of AI development and the lack of adequate safety measures. His resignation and subsequent claims ignited widespread debate over the safety of AI development and calls to mitigate potential risks. Some politicians, however, have resisted such calls, advocating for continued advancement to maintain global competition with China.