In an online briefing, Paul Dean, a State Department arms control official, called upon China and Russia to join the United States and other nations in declaring that only humans, not artificial intelligence, would be responsible for decisions regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons. Dean emphasized that the U.S. had made a firm commitment to maintaining human control over nuclear weapons and noted that France and Britain had also made similar declarations.
Dean stressed the importance of this norm of responsible behavior and expressed the hope that China and Russia would follow suit. He highlighted the significance of such a declaration, especially within the context of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, known as the P5.
These remarks from Dean coincide with efforts by the Biden administration to engage in separate discussions with China on nuclear weapons policy and the development of artificial intelligence. The Chinese defense ministry has not yet responded to these calls for a declaration.
The topic of artificial intelligence was prominently featured in recent talks between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on April 26. Both parties agreed to hold bilateral discussions on artificial intelligence in the near future, with a focus on managing risks and ensuring safety in the use of this technology.
While U.S. and Chinese officials have resumed discussions on nuclear weapons as part of efforts to normalize military communication, formal arms control negotiations are not expected to commence in the near future.
