China’s AI Drive Takes Center Stage at Human Rights Hearing

Witnesses called on Congress to protect human rights as world leaders like China increasingly adopt artificial intelligence technology, warning it could be used to weaken democracy and help authoritarian regimes tighten their grip on citizens.

“China cannot be trusted to help build the guardrails for AI,” Geoffrey Cain, senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, testified before the Senate Judiciary human rights subcommittee on Tuesday. “America must ensure that China’s authoritarian agenda does not influence global standards.”

The hearing was part of Congress’ ongoing push to learn about artificial intelligence and better determine how to regulate the transformative technology. ...