U.S. and China experts propose AI safeguards for nuclear security

Security experts from the United States and China are proposing urgent safeguards to manage the risks posed by artificial intelligence in military and nuclear contexts. The experts warn that AI systems capable of disrupting nuclear command networks or launching cyber operations could leave leaders in Washington or Beijing with only minutes to decide if an adversary has launched an attack.

As part of a dialogue between the two nations, authors Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution and Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University have recommended establishing ‘red lines’ around nuclear systems, maintaining human control over consequential cyberattacks, and creating a dedicated hotline for incidents involving autonomous AI. These proposals aim to prevent technical accidents from being misidentified as intentional military strikes.

The recommendations arrive ahead of scheduled government-level AI discussions and an anticipated meeting on September 24 in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The dialogue, organized by the Brookings Institution and Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy, highlights how the competition between the two powers is shifting from semiconductor rivalry toward traditional arms control issues.