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President Biden recently remarked that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) should be used as “tools of opportunity, not as weapons of oppression.” He makes a valid point. However, his vow to collaborate directly with “our competitors” to harness the power of AI “for good” raises questions. Working with competitors, such as China, would only empower the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to shape the rules of AI. And we certainly don’t want China in control.
China is at the forefront of using emerging technologies for oppressive purposes, both domestically and internationally. The state-run data system in western Xinjiang region employs AI to flag specific groups of people for detention, as reported by journalists and human rights activists. The stark difference in how technology is used between America and China highlights the challenge of international cooperation.
In addition, the Chinese government collaborates with technology companies like iFlytek to develop an AI-powered voice recognition system that can identify specific voices in phone conversations. Their mass facial recognition systems divide the population based on eyebrow size and skin color. “Sharp Eyes,” a public-private surveillance project, employs AI to analyze people’s movements, associations, medical records, online behavior, and more, creating a pervasive surveillance system to enforce social control.
Furthermore, the CCP exports these AI technologies to like-minded governments. China has provided AI-driven digital monitoring capabilities to countries across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and beyond. As a result, China has established 296 surveillance relationships in 96 countries, often through its “AI Champion” companies.
For example, Chinese telecommunications company Huawei helped build a network of over 4,000 cameras for Ecuador’s police and intelligence services. Chinese firm CloudWalk has multiple AI and biometric data partnerships with Harare in Zimbabwe. Chinese startup Yitu developed body-mounted cameras for the Malaysian police. And in Pakistan, Chinese policing technologies with predictive analytics and smart city surveillance capabilities empower Islamabad to monitor and control its citizens.
Cooperation on AI development could also enhance the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In 2019, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford stated that private tech companies like Google working in China directly benefited the Chinese military. This aligns with the CCP’s strategy of Military Civil-Fusion, which aims to leverage technological progress for military purposes.
In fact, China has already developed offensive applications of AI with potential negative impacts on the United States and its allies. The Department of Defense’s 2020 China Military Power Report reveals that China has AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels intended for patrols in the disputed South China Sea. The report also mentions armed swarming drones that use AI for autonomous guidance, target acquisition, and attack execution.
Moreover, the PLA plans to leverage AI to identify vulnerabilities in U.S. operating systems and launch precision strikes. They also seek to use AI for offensive cognitive domain operations, potentially resulting in the development of deep fakes and targeted propaganda. Collaborating with China on AI could ultimately contribute to our own downfall.
China is determined to win the AI race. Their 2017 plan aims for global AI development leadership by 2030, prioritizing their own interests over those of other nations. Russian leader Vladimir Putin even stated in 2017 that the country leading in AI “will be the ruler of the world”. The CCP has taken this message to heart.
So, what can we do instead? The world needs appropriate frameworks for building and using these technologies, given that tech development often surpasses attempts to govern it. These frameworks should be based on values like openness and transparency, which are consistent with American values.
First, the United States should assert itself more in international bodies that set standards for tech development and usage. China has been expanding its influence in these organizations, and it’s time for the United States to counterbalance them.
Second, U.S. companies can commit to open sourcing elements of their AI technologies to identify and address potential malicious uses. OpenAI’s release of a smaller version of their language model in 2019 is a good example of this practice. This process should originate from the United States and other democratic nations to establish our version of these technologies as superior to China’s.
Lastly, the U.S. government, particularly Congress, should prioritize the promotion of explainable AI. This involves implementing processes that help explain how machine learning algorithms arrive at their outputs. Users affected by this transformative technology should be able to understand the behavior of these systems. Designing AI in a way that allows human understanding of its outcomes is crucial to avoid black box systems that segment populations based on ethnicity, similar to what occurs in China.
If America and other freedom-loving nations fail to shape the rules for emerging technologies like AI, authoritarians will do it for us. Instead, America must challenge China’s vision for AI and present its own agenda. By designing and deploying products that embody our values of openness and transparency, we can offer an alternative to the world. Additionally, explicitly promoting our vision for AI governance rooted in human flourishing and individual liberty would be even more impactful. Collaborating with despots is not the solution; leadership is.
Authors: Jake Denton is a research associate in the Tech Policy Center at The Heritage Foundation. Kara Frederick is the director of the Tech Policy Center at The Heritage Foundation.
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