JNS: U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an important agreement on Saturday, affirming that neither country will allow artificial intelligence (AI) systems to take control of nuclear weapons. The White House announced the agreement, calling it a significant step in managing the risks at the intersection of emerging AI technology and nuclear security.
Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Adviser, emphasized that the pact reflects a shared commitment to responsible management of nuclear risks, despite ongoing competition between the U.S. and China. “This is an important statement about the intersection of artificial intelligence and nuclear doctrine,” Sullivan said, adding that it shows the two global powers can cooperate on key issues even amid broader tensions.
The agreement, Sullivan explained, was not prompted by an immediate concern that either country was planning to delegate control of nuclear weapons to AI systems. Rather, it acknowledged the leadership roles of both nations in the rapidly advancing field of AI. “A good place to start is with the straightforward proposition that there should be human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons,” he said.
The accord was made during what is expected to be the final meeting between the two leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima. While the two leaders addressed this pressing issue, the White House acknowledged ongoing disagreements between the U.S. and China, particularly regarding U.S. export controls on high-end semiconductors critical for AI and other advanced technologies.
