China is striving to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) that surpasses human intelligence, potentially outpacing the U. S. However, this advancement could weaken the Communist Party’s influence over China’s economy. AI expert Max Tegmark labels this U. S. -China technological race a "suicide race" due to its inherent dangers. Tegmark warns that AGI might arrive sooner than expected but lacks the necessary controls to manage risks. While some tech leaders like Sam Altman of OpenAI predict AGI by 2025, others believe it remains distant. The U. S. and China are fiercely competing in AI and chip technology, with Tegmark suggesting it's due to a misplaced belief that AGI can be controlled. This "hopium war" can have severe consequences if AGI outpaces human regulation.

China itself is wary of AGI as it might challenge the Communist Party's authority, and recent AI regulations hint at this concern. China has prioritized AI, investing heavily in its firms like Alibaba and Tencent to develop advanced models, while maintaining stringent regulations to align AI development with state interests. Analysts believe China will pursue AGI dominance while controlling its domestic impact. Despite Tegmark's warnings, both nations view AI through lenses of geopolitical advantage and economic growth. The U. S. has tried to limit China's access to crucial tech, while China is building its semiconductor industry in response. Tegmark envisions separate safety standards from both nations to self-regulate AGI risks, leading to potential international cooperation to prevent uncontrolled AGI proliferation elsewhere, like North Korea. Initiatives for global AI safety regulations are underway, such as a U. K. -hosted summit and discussions on international governance. Nonetheless, AI regulations remain varied worldwide, with fragmented efforts to address safety concerns. Trivium China's Schaefer highlights a Chinese call for an international governance body, akin to those managing nuclear energy, to oversee AI.