Chen Yixin, the head of China's National Security Ministry, which is often compared to the CIA, warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could pose a direct threat to the Communist Party's grip on power, according to a report by The New York Times on September 14.
In an article published on September 13 in the state-run magazine China Cybersecurity, Chen called for stronger party control over AI and urged for stricter government oversight. He argued that enhancing control over AI is necessary to protect political stability domestically and to defend against cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns from 'hostile nations' abroad, as well as to compete militarily with countries like the United States. Chen cited well-known American AI models such as Claude and Mitos as new cybersecurity threats. He also warned that foreign intelligence agencies could use AI to conduct large-scale espionage and attack China's critical infrastructure.
The Times noted that Chen's article warns of the potential for malicious actors to use AI to create fake videos and audio to conduct 'propaganda wars' against the public. Kyle Chan, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, told the NYT that the Chinese Communist Party is fearful, particularly of deepfake videos that could make it appear as if Chinese officials said things they did not actually say, leading to societal instability. 'Someone could create a fake announcement that Xi Jinping said something he actually did not, and that could cause chaos,' Chan explained.
Chen's remarks come amid growing concerns from global AI leaders about rapid advancements in the field. In contrast, President Donald Trump has expressed confidence in the United States' AI leadership, emphasizing ongoing development. On September 12, Trump stated, 'We are ahead of China in AI,' adding, 'Honestly, I want to keep it that way because the one who wins in AI will win overall.' He further remarked on September 14 via social media platform Truth Social that 'the only control and safety needed for AI is a strong and wise president, and the U.S. already has that president,' according to reports from NBC and other outlets.
President Xi Jinping has not directly commented on AI. According to Business Insider, during the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 13, Xi stated, 'We must develop AI with a human-centered approach for the social good and establish a global AI governance system based on consensus to illuminate the path to common prosperity.' He also suggested that developing countries in the 'Global South,' including those in Asia, Africa, and South America, should move more quickly to establish AI governance standards.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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