US and China accelerate in race to spread AI, safety standards split

[Washington, Beijing Current Affairs] Amidst the sudden emergence of the theory of a slowdown in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) due to concerns about it running out of control, both the United States and China are accelerating the race to popularize AI. From the perspective of economic security, Japan aims to build an ``AI economic zone'' centered on its own technology and products. However, if the standards for verifying safety are divided into two, it will be difficult to deal with serious accidents. The U.S.-China summit on the 24th is likely to be an opportunity to predict the future of cooperation and division regarding AI.

The leaders of the United States and China are rushing to create an AI order centered on their countries. U.S. President Trump has not hidden his desire for high-tech supremacy, saying, ``Whoever controls AI will win,'' while Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared that ``AI will be provided as an ``international public good.'' The United States is trying to expand its sphere of influence by leveraging its advanced technological capabilities and China by leveraging its price competitiveness.

At the end of last year, the United States launched ``Pax Silica'' to build a safe supply network for AI, semiconductors, and important minerals. It was launched mainly by allied and friendly countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom, and the number of signatory countries and regions has increased to 25. In July of this year, China also established the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) with 29 countries to spread inexpensive AI models and communications infrastructure to the Global South (emerging and developing countries). Dubbed the "AI version of One Belt, One Road," 38 countries are currently participating.

"To be part of any framework is to be part of nothing." It has been reported that the US State Department will compel Pax Silica signatories to take a step forward by drafting a document requesting them not to participate in WAICO. Still, Kazakhstan participates in both parties. Seeking U.S. technology and China's cheap infrastructure, Uzbekistan, Singapore, and Bangladesh are also exploring "dual participation."

The race to spread AI is also a battle for leadership over safety standards associated with models and infrastructure. Although the United Nations only began full-scale discussions in July, China is not waiting for any progress, and hastened to promote international standardization by spreading its own standards along with its home-made models. The United States is cautious about imposing uniform regulations and is poised to keep China in check through bilateral dialogue.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that "guardrails to build trust are essential" for the spread of AI. The United States aims to be a "winner," and China aims to expand its influence by promoting "cooperation." Will the two leaders be able to share minimum principles, such as mutual reporting of serious accidents, at the summit meeting? If the two major powers fail to come to terms, the divisions in technology, supply chains, and rules could deepen.