China spy chief outlines Beijing’s AI fears

China’s minister of state security, Chen Yixin, gave an unusually direct view of Beijing’s AI concerns in China Cyberspace, a journal run by the Cyberspace Administration of China. Chen identified six major risks from AI, led by threats to “regime security” from deepfake audio and video, AI-generated images and text, and automated online groups used to spread political rumors and shape public opinion.

Chen also warned that AI could endanger critical infrastructure, enable large-scale data leaks, deepen technology monopolies, disrupt public order and reshape warfare through AI-powered precision targeting. He argued for stronger developmental guidelines and a security risk prevention and control system to support the “healthy and orderly development” of AI under high-efficiency governance.

His remarks aligned with Xi Jinping’s comments at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where Xi called for a people-centered approach and a consensus-based global AI governance framework. Chen also urged global powers to resist hegemonism, technological barriers and exclusive blocs while building a fair and open international AI rules system.