China sees opportunity in America’s recent AI security scares

Z.ai, a Beijing-based AI startup, released details of its latest model on Friday, claiming it is nearly as powerful as Silicon Valley's best, particularly in hacking and coding, as China's AI industry remains less alarmed by U.S. security scares due to government control and a focus on benefits over risks.

SEOUL – In the United States, recent episodes of powerful artificial intelligence software breaking free and hacking into other computer systems prompted a wave of anxiety and intense debate about how to guard against the risks of AI. But in China, these incidents and the growing capabilities of AI have not caused the same level of alarm. The government already controls many kinds of technology, including AI. The prevailing attitude in the industry has been that the benefits of AI far outweigh the risks. That was exemplified Friday when Z.ai, a Beijing-based AI startup, made public the details of its latest model. The company claims the new model is nearly as powerful as those developed in Silicon Valley, especially when it comes to hacking and coding capabilities.