Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for restrictions on AI technology sales to China, citing potential risks associated with advanced AI systems. His comments have prompted a response from China, which has accused the US of fear-mongering and attempting to maintain technological dominance. Amodei expressed concerns about the rapid advancement of AI capabilities, suggesting that without proper management, these technologies could lead to significant harm. He proposed slowing the development of powerful AI systems to allow for better risk management.
Amodei's views were supported by other industry leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He emphasized that a Chinese lead in AI could pose serious threats to the US and the global community, advocating for continued restrictions on AI chip sales to China and addressing concerns over the alleged appropriation of US AI models by Chinese labs.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump dismissed calls for a slowdown in AI development, asserting that the US is leading in AI technology. China's Foreign Ministry responded by urging a collaborative approach to AI and criticized the US for fostering competition and confrontation.
The competition between the US and China in AI has intensified, with the US maintaining a lead in investment and advanced semiconductor technology. According to Stanford University's AI Index Report, US companies invested $285.9 billion in AI in 2025, compared to $12.4 billion from China. Despite US restrictions, Chinese companies have shown resilience in developing competitive AI models.
The US has imposed limits on China's access to advanced semiconductor technology, citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, China has tightened its export controls on rare earth metals critical to technology production. Both nations are pursuing AI for military and national security purposes, with the US accelerating AI use in intelligence and defense sectors.
Concerns have been raised about the ethical implications of AI development, with experts questioning the framing of AI as a competitive race. Aya Ibrahim from the AI Now Institute highlighted the financial pressures on companies to rapidly develop AI technologies, raising doubts about their ability to manage the associated risks effectively.