Experts from the US and China have proposed rules to prevent AI systems from making autonomous decisions about deploying nuclear weapons. Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution and Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University outlined specific recommendations ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Xi on September 24.
The proposals emphasize that no AI system should be allowed to launch nuclear weapons on its own or attack nuclear command systems. Humans must retain sole control over AI-driven cyberattacks on strategic infrastructure. Both countries should agree on a shared definition of 'human control.'
These recommendations build on an agreement Biden and Xi reached in November 2024. Jiang also proposed a hotline for AI incidents. If a defensive AI system automatically responds to suspicious activity, the other side might read it as an attack.
A direct line would let one government clarify that an incident was accidental before the situation escalates.
"This isn't the first time someone has raised the alarm," said Carla Freeman of Johns Hopkins University. "The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence called for preserving human control over nuclear weapons back in 2021."
Binding mechanisms still don't exist, though. Freeman questioned whether such hotlines would even work. During the spy balloon crisis in 2023, China didn't pick up when the US called.
The announcement follows growing concerns about AI in military applications. The source notes that while the proposals are significant, they remain non-binding, and the next steps involve further discussions between the two nations.
Source: thedecoder
