Amid the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), experts at the 2024 Beijing Forum underscored the vital need for collaboration between the United States and China. As two of the foremost leaders in AI development, both nations possess advanced laboratories and sophisticated language models that set them apart on the global stage.
Graham Webster, a research scholar at Stanford University, voiced concerns about the potential repercussions of a complete technological decoupling between the U.S. and China. \"There would be a significant loss of efficiency and innovation,\" Webster warned, advocating for sustained government-to-government dialogues focused on AI risk and safety. He emphasized the importance of engaging with a diverse international community, including scholars and cultural perspectives, to harness the full potential of AI technologies.
Karman Lucero, a research fellow at Yale University's Paul Tsai China Center, highlighted the global fascination with China's swift advancements in AI. Lucero pointed out that China's dynamic and diverse AI ecosystem offers valuable insights, fostering mutual understanding and addressing challenges through both official dialogues and people-to-people exchanges.
Despite recent U.S. measures aimed at limiting AI cooperation with China, ongoing dialogues have sought to bridge gaps and mitigate disputes. Notably, in May, China and the U.S. convened their first inter-governmental meeting on AI in Geneva to discuss technological risks and global governance. This was followed by the second China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue in Beijing in June, where both nations agreed to deepen their cooperation in the AI sector.
Lei Shaohua, an associate professor at Peking University's School of International Studies, called for measures to prevent economic fragmentation caused by technological divides. Shaohua advocated for a \"bottom-up\" approach, encouraging collaboration among universities, think tanks, government research institutions, and AI companies from both countries to stabilize bilateral relations.
The panel session, themed \"Digitalization and Intellectuals: The Convergence of Multiple Disciplines in the Era of AI,\" was a key segment of the annual Beijing Forum held at Peking University. This year's three-day academic event attracted over 500 experts and scholars from more than 30 countries and regions, fostering a rich dialogue on the future of AI and its global implications.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
