Bill Gates seeks meeting with Xi Jinping on global AI safeguards

Beijing, China. Bill Gates is seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year to propose global efforts to mitigate growing risks associated with artificial intelligence.

Gates said China could support restrictions on potentially dangerous AI model releases if the United States took the initiative.

Proposed safeguards

“The whole world would go along with that,” Gates told Reuters. He met Xi three years ago, when he became the first foreign entrepreneur to be hosted by the Chinese president after the pandemic.

Gates said he also wants to propose that countries monitor AI systems’ ability to create molecules and carry out biological attacks, measures he said would not hinder the development of technology industries.

His staff are working to finalise a meeting with Xi during his next trip to China, tentatively scheduled for November, according to his spokesperson.

Concerns over AI risks

Gates said Xi “might be surprised by how vehement I am” about the issue. He said China was protecting children from AI companion addiction, but that few leaders globally were taking sufficient action to address potential harms from the technology.

“Yes, in the past, technology never did this. This time is different. This is like an evolutionary milestone that needs incredible policy management by society as a whole,” Gates said.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Growing concerns

Gates expressed a more optimistic view of AI in January, but said he has since become concerned about its potential to conduct attacks, replace jobs and create psychological dependence among users.

He cited recent cybersecurity evaluations in which technology from OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta Platforms hacked real-world websites despite the tests being intended as isolated assessments.