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TIME: China Is Taking AI Safety Seriously
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3/5
Good(3)Good quality. Reputable source with community review or editorial standards, but less rigorous than peer-reviewed venues.
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A TIME opinion piece relevant to AI governance discussions, particularly useful for understanding comparative regulatory approaches between the U.S. and China and countering misconceptions about China's AI safety posture.
Metadata
Importance: 42/100news articlecommentary
Summary
This TIME opinion piece argues that China has been actively developing AI safety and regulatory frameworks, contrary to common Western assumptions, and urges the U.S. to take AI governance more seriously rather than treating regulation as a competitive disadvantage. It highlights specific Chinese regulatory actions on generative AI and algorithmic recommendations as evidence of a structured approach to AI oversight.
Key Points
- •China has implemented concrete AI regulations, including rules on algorithmic recommendations and generative AI, challenging the narrative that it ignores AI governance.
- •The article argues the U.S. risks falling behind on AI safety policy by framing regulation as antithetical to AI competitiveness.
- •Chinese regulators have focused on content control, data security, and societal harms from AI, offering a distinct governance model worth studying.
- •The piece calls for the U.S. to develop its own robust AI regulatory framework rather than using China's approach as a reason for inaction.
- •Geopolitical framing of AI regulation as a race dynamic may undermine both nations' ability to address shared AI safety challenges.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| China AI Regulatory Framework | Policy | 57.0 |
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# China Is Taking AI Safety Seriously. So Must the U.S.
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by
[Brian Tse](https://time.com/author/brian-tse/)
Tse is the founder and CEO of Concordia AI
Aug 13, 2025 6:15 AM ET
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center on April 29, 2025.
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center on April 29, 2025.Xie Huanchi—Xinhua/Getty Images
by
[Brian Tse](https://time.com/author/brian-tse/)
Tse is the founder and CEO of Concordia AI
Aug 13, 2025 6:15 AM ET
“China doesn’t care about AI safety—so why should we?” This flawed logic pervades U.S. policy and tech circles, offering cover for a reckless race to the bottom as Washington rushes to outpace Beijing in AI development.
According to this rationale, regulating AI would risk falling behind in the so-called “ [AI arms race](https://time.com/6283609/artificial-intelligence-race-existential-threat/).” And since China supposedly doesn’t prioritize safety, racing ahead—even recklessly—is the safer long-term bet. This narrative is not just [wrong](https://time.com/6314790/china-ai-regulation-us/); it’s dangerous.
Ironically, Chinese leaders may have a lesson for the U.S.’s AI boosters: true [speed](https://time.com/7204164/china-ai-advances-chips/) requires control. As China’s top tech official, Ding Xuexiang, put it [bluntly](https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202501/content_7000504.htm) at Davos in January 2025: “If the braking system isn’t under control, you can’t step on the accelerator with confidence.” For Chinese leaders, safety isn’t a constraint; it’s a prerequisite.
AI safety has become a political [priority](https://concordia-ai.com/research/state-of-ai-safety-in-china-2025/) in China. In April, President Xi Jinping chaired a rare Politburo [study session](https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202504/29/content_WS68100ef1c6d0868f4e8f2275.html) on AI warning of “unprecedented” risks. China’s [National Emergency Response Plan](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202502/content_7005635.htm) now lists AI safety alongside pandemics and cyberattacks. Regulators require pre-deployment safety assessments for generative AI and recently removed over [3,500](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-06/20/c_1752129980667315.htm) non-compliant AI products from the market. In just the first half of this year, China has [issued](https://concordia-ai.com/research/state-of-ai-safety-in-china-2025/) more national AI standards than in the previous three years combined. Meanwhile, the volume of technic
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