China’s spy chief warns of national security risks from AI
China's state security chief has warned that generative AI poses significant national security risks, citing potential for foreign intelligence to use advanced tools for data theft and political subversion. The warning highlights concerns over the rapid development of AI models like Claude and ChatGPT, which are viewed as strategic battlegrounds between global powers.
Why it matters
As AI capabilities advance, the intersection of national security and technological governance is becoming a primary point of friction in US-China relations.
The head of China's spy agency has warned that artificial intelligence endangers the country's national security, with foreign powers potentially using the technology to threaten social order.
"Hostile forces" were abusing generative AI technologies to "fabricate political rumours and spread harmful information", Minister of State Security Chen Yixin wrote in an article published online on Sunday (September 13, 2026).
"They launch public opinion wars and cognitive warfare against China, directly threatening our political security, institutional security and ideological security," he said.
The warning comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this month, with AI governance and safety set to be part of their discussions as calls mount for greater oversight of the technology.
U.S. tech leaders have also called for slowing AI advances.
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