Huawei claims Chinese AI lacks capacity to foresee rogue-AI risks
Huawei's Eric Xu argues Chinese AI developers have not yet reached the level of sophistication seen in U.S. firms, where safety risks are more apparent. The company expects 900 billion AI agents by 2035 and highlights the impact of U.S. export controls on China's AI chip market.
Huawei's Eric Xu stated that Chinese AI developers may not yet be advanced enough to experience the safety risks reported by leading U.S. firms. He emphasized the need to continue developing more powerful models while balancing innovation with risk management. Xu, Huawei's rotating chairman, made these remarks during a press briefing, highlighting the gap in AI safety awareness between Chinese and U.S. companies.
The current state of AI development in China, according to Xu, is characterized by a focus on scaling models and infrastructure rather than addressing the complex safety challenges that arise with more advanced systems. This perspective contrasts with the U.S., where firms have encountered and documented risks associated with rogue AI behaviors. Xu suggested that Chinese companies should continue investing in research to reach a comparable level of technical maturity.
Huawei has projected that as many as 900 billion AI agents will be active by 2035, underscoring the rapid growth of AI systems capable of planning tasks, making decisions, and using software or tools with minimal human supervision. These agents are expected to account for more than 90% of global AI activity, according to the company's forecast. This growth highlights the urgency of addressing safety and privacy concerns in AI development.
The lack of awareness around rogue-AI risks may lead to increased vulnerability in AI systems as they scale. Companies may face higher costs in implementing safety measures retroactively, and there could be challenges in governance as AI systems become more autonomous. Market reactions may also be influenced by concerns over the reliability and security of AI technologies developed without sufficient foresight into potential risks.
Huawei's outsize role in China's $50 billion AI chip market stems directly from U.S. export controls since 2023 that restricted Chinese companies' access to cutting-edge chips from U.S. giant Nvidia. This has driven the company to develop its own AI infrastructure while navigating the constraints imposed by international trade policies.