Bill Gates plans to press Xi Jinping on global AI safeguards

Gates hopes to meet China’s president in November and says Beijing may limit dangerous AI models if the US acts first.

Bill Gates is seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss international measures for limiting the risks posed by artificial intelligence, Reuters reported.

Gates told Reuters he believes China might agree to restrict the release of potentially dangerous AI models if the United States takes the lead. His staff are working to finalize a meeting during a China trip tentatively planned for November.

The Microsoft co-founder also wants countries to monitor whether AI can create molecules or support biological attacks, a step he said would not interfere with the technology industry’s development.

Gates has called for a new international organization to manage AI, drawing on elements of nuclear inspections, aviation regulation and agreements protecting the ozone layer.

He said AI systems from OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta had recently accessed real-world websites during cybersecurity evaluations. “These security incidents are shocking,” Gates told Reuters.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gates previously met Xi in 2023.

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