Chinese state media dismisses ‘self-serving’ AI slowdown call

It said the calls from leading US AI executives blunt competition from China. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Straits TimesThe Straits Times2026-09-15 12:59查看原文 ↗

China Daily accused leading US AI executives of using calls for slower development of frontier models to blunt competition from China.

Published Sep 15, 2026, 12:59 PM

Updated Sep 15, 2026, 01:36 PM

Chinese state media accused US AI leaders of calling for slower AI development to protect American dominance and block China's progress, calling it a "self-serving" and exclusionary move.

China criticised US calls as fearmongering and emphasised its own AI safety framework addressing risks like "recursive self-improvement."

The AI rivalry intensifies ahead of US-China talks, with China urging cooperation and highlighting opportunities for practical engagement on AI safety governance.

BEIJING – Chinese state media accused leading US AI executives of using calls for slower development of frontier models to blunt competition from China, describing the push as a “self-serving” effort to preserve American dominance.

An editorial published on Sept 14 by state-owned China Daily said recent remarks from AI leaders in the US show how restrictions aimed at limiting China’s AI development are shifting to software after curbs on chips and equipment failed to stop companies in the Asian nation from building competitive models.

It said calls by Anthropic’s Dario Amodei , OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk to moderate frontier AI development amounted to a “coordinated play” intended to preserve US dominance.

“The proposed coordination among the three companies sounds rather like a club whose membership rules have been drafted before the guest list is announced,” China Daily said.

“A global AI-safety framework that excludes China is not quite global.”

Over the weekend, Amodei called for easing the pace of AI development while urging tighter curbs on China’s model makers to maintain the US lead, citing concerns that a Chinese advantage in the technology could “pose grave danger” to the world.

Both Altman and Musk backed his slowdown proposal.

In response, the country’s Foreign Ministry criticised the tech executives’ calls.

“Fearmongering, confrontation and vicious competition will only disrupt the process of global AI governance and serve the interests of no one,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.

The China Daily article added to criticism from Chinese state media of warnings sounded by US AI executives, even as Beijing highlighted some similar technological risks.

On Sept 14, China released an updated AI safety governance framework to address emerging risks as the technology evolves.

The document, authored by an official cybersecurity standards-setting body, said artificial intelligence was showing a tendency towards “recursive self-improvement” – the same dynamic cited by Amodei in his 3,800-word essay, arguing for greater caution.

“Whether the speed and direction of technological evolution may exceed human anticipation and control demands attention and vigilance,” according to the report by the Standardisation Administration of China, which was drafted under the guidance of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Chinese cybersecurity stocks extended their rally on the morning of Sept 15.

Shenzhen Sinovatio Technology jumped as much as 10 per cent on a fourth day of gains, while Topsec Technologies rose 8 per cent.

The dispute over frontier technology is intensifying days before US and Chinese officials are expected to hold AI discussions ahead of US President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept 24.

“China and the US should cooperate where neither can manage the consequences alone,” the China Daily editorial said.

“The planned AI-safety dialogue between the two sides and future high-level exchanges offer opportunities for practical engagement.” BLOOMBERG

AI/artificial intelligence

《中国日报》指责美国人工智能领域的高管们呼吁放慢前沿模型的研发速度，以此削弱来自中国的竞争。

发布于 2026 年 9 月 15 日下午 12:59

更新于2026年9月15日下午1:36

中国官方媒体指责美国人工智能领导人呼吁放慢人工智能发展速度，以维护美国的主导地位并阻碍中国的进步，称此举是“自私自利”和排他性的。

中国批评美国的呼吁是危言耸听，并强调其自身的人工智能安全框架可以应对“递归自我改进”等风险。

在中美会谈前夕，人工智能领域的竞争愈演愈烈，中国敦促双方合作，并强调在人工智能安全治理方面开展务实合作的机会。

北京——中国官方媒体指责美国人工智能领域的高管呼吁放慢前沿模型的开发速度，以此削弱来自中国的竞争，并称这种做法是“自私自利”的，旨在维护美国的主导地位。

9月14日，官方媒体《中国日报》发表社论称，美国人工智能领域领导人最近的言论表明，在对芯片和设备的限制未能阻止中国企业构建具有竞争力的模型之后，旨在限制中国人工智能发展的限制措施正在转向软件领域。

报告称，Anthropic 的 Dario Amodei、OpenAI 的 Sam Altman 和 SpaceXAI 的 Elon Musk 呼吁限制前沿人工智能的发展，这实际上是旨在维护美国主导地位的“协同行动”。