China’s spy agency warns AI could threaten national security

In short: China’s main spy agency has issued its first public warning that AI could be used to harm the country’s political and social stability.

What happened

China’s Ministry of State Security said on Sunday that artificial intelligence could create new risks for national security. The ministry said threats include attacks on cyber defences, the theft of sensitive data, and risks to the military.

State security minister Chen Yixin said “hostile forces” could use generative AI, meaning tools that can create new text, images, audio, and video, to spread false information cheaply and at large scale. He pointed to deepfakes, which are fake audio or video made to look real, and to “intelligent troll armies”, which are groups of automated or organized accounts that try to steer online discussions.

The ministry described this as an attack on public opinion and “cognitive warfare”, meaning attempts to influence how people think and what they believe. The statement did not include claims that AI could cause human extinction, and it did not call on Chinese companies to slow down their AI work.

Chen also warned that Chinese companies could leak sensitive information by using foreign AI tools. This could lead to tighter limits on foreign AI systems in areas seen as sensitive, such as finance and healthcare, where some restrictions already exist.

Why it matters

AI is increasingly part of everyday work, from writing to customer service, and it can also be used for scams and propaganda. China’s warning shows governments are treating AI not just as a business tool, but also as a security issue, like locking doors as well as building new rooms. It may also affect US-China talks, since US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping are expected to discuss AI safety at an upcoming summit.

Source: Financial Times