In The News

The U.S. Wants to Target China’s Dangerous AI Systems. It’s Easier Said Than Done.

Barron's

August 18, 2023

In an op-ed featured in Barron's, CSET's Emily S. Weinstein discusses the recent proposed regulations by the Biden administration to restrict U.S. investments in critical technology sectors in China. The regulations target advancements in semiconductors, microelectronics, quantum technologies, and AI systems, with concerns about potential military applications benefiting adversaries like China.

Read the Op-Ed

Emily S. Weinstein

March 2020

Emily S. Weinstein is a Research Fellow focusing on U.S. national competitiveness in AI/ML technology and U.S.-China technology competition.

U.S. policymakers are increasingly concerned about the national security implications of U.S. investments in China, and some are considering a new regime for reviewing outbound investment security. The authors identify the main U.S. investors active in the Chinese artificial intelligence market and the set of AI companies in China that have benefitted from U.S. capital. They also recommend next steps for U.S. policymakers to better address the concerns over capital flowing into the Chinese AI ecosystem.

Existing U.S. government tools and approaches may help mitigate some of the issues worrying AI observers. This blog post describes long-standing “catch-all” controls, administered by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and how they might be used to address some of these threats.