China’s Spy Chief Warns AI Could Threaten National Security

China’s top intelligence official has issued a major warning about the potential security risks posed by artificial intelligence, saying hostile forces could exploit generative AI to influence public opinion and undermine social stability. Chen Yixin, China’s Minister of State Security, outlined the concerns in a public article that represents one of Beijing’s most detailed statements on the national-security implications of advanced AI.

According to Chen, generative AI could be used to create convincing fake audio, video and written material capable of spreading political rumours and misleading information. He described these activities as a form of “cognitive warfare,” reflecting growing concerns among governments that AI-generated content could make manipulation campaigns more sophisticated and difficult for the public to identify.

The warning comes as the United States and China compete intensely over artificial intelligence, computing infrastructure and advanced semiconductor technology. Washington has recently accused several Chinese AI companies of using large-scale model-distillation campaigns to obtain capabilities from American AI systems, allegations Beijing has rejected.

Chen also called for stronger governance and international cooperation around AI, arguing that technological development should be accompanied by measures designed to manage its security and social risks. His comments come shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted greater international cooperation on AI and proposed an open-source AI community among BRICS countries.

The latest warning illustrates how the AI debate is expanding beyond questions of productivity and technological competition into national security and geopolitics. As increasingly capable AI systems become more widely available, governments around the world are now grappling with how to encourage innovation while limiting the potential for misinformation, manipulation and other forms of misuse.