China weighs AI hacking risks as national security threat

Chinese policymakers are increasingly viewing advanced artificial intelligence as a national security threat, shifting focus from immediate risks like deepfakes to the technology's alarming hacking capabilities, according to a report this week. The warning follows the spy agency chief's statement that AI could jeopardize national security, and a recent demonstration where programmers used AI to build a cyberattack "worm" capable of compromising millions of WeChat accounts. Experts note China and the US share similar AI safety concerns, though these are less publicly debated in China. The issue is expected to be discussed at upcoming talks between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, though cooperation on shared safety evaluations may be undermined by competition. Chinese policy focuses on present-day harms, treating AI as manageable through regulation, while public opinion in Shanghai shows support for tight oversight.