Archive · 14 Sep 2026
China Spy Chief Warns AI Threatens National Security
China’s intelligence chief says artificial intelligence could create serious security problems.
He says hostile groups may use AI to make false political stories and spread harmful information.
These activities could affect how people think and how society works.
He also warned that powerful AI tools might be used to attack important computer systems.
Foreign intelligence agencies could use AI to gather secrets and private information, he said.
The article says AI is also becoming important in military conflicts.
China wants to develop and control key technologies needed for AI.
The warning comes before a planned meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
AI rules and safety are expected to be discussed at that meeting.
China’s spy chief Chen Yixin said hostile forces are using generative AI to spread political rumors and harmful information.
Chen warned that AI-enabled opinion and cognitive warfare could threaten China’s political, institutional and ideological security.
He identified advanced hacking tools linked to Claude Mythos and ChatGPT-5.5-Cyber as potential risks to critical information infrastructure.
Chen said foreign intelligence agencies use AI to collect sensitive national data, trade secrets and personal privacy information.
He called for China to control key technologies, including advanced computer chips, as AI becomes central to global strategic competition.
- Who
- Chen Yixin, China’s minister of state security, made the warning; Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are due to discuss AI governance and safety.
- What
- China’s spy chief warned that artificial intelligence could be used for political manipulation, information theft, cyberattacks and military advantage.
- When
- The warning was published online on Sunday; Xi Jinping is due to meet Donald Trump this month.
- Where
- The warning was issued in China, while the planned Xi-Trump meeting is in Washington.
- Why
- Chen said foreign powers and intelligence agencies could use AI to threaten China’s security, collect sensitive information and attack critical infrastructure.
Security-first concerns
Development-risk concerns
Main AI danger
Security-first concerns
Chen Yixin focused on foreign powers using AI for political rumors, cognitive warfare, information collection and cyberattacks against China.
Development-risk concerns
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI chief Sam Altman focused on the reckless pace of AI development and risks from potentially superintelligent systems.
Preferred response
Security-first concerns
Chen called for China to secure technological sovereignty by independently controlling key AI technologies and advanced computer chips.
Development-risk concerns
Amodei and Altman supported concern about slowing or more carefully managing rapid AI advances, according to the article.
- Speaker
- Chen Yixin, China’s minister of state security
- Main concern
- Generative AI being used to spread political rumors and harmful information
- Security risks
- Threats to political, institutional, ideological and critical information security
- Named AI systems
- Claude Mythos and ChatGPT-5.5-Cyber
- Other intelligence uses
- Intelligent web crawlers, data mining and profiling analysis
- Technology priority
- Independent control of key technologies, including advanced computer chips
- Upcoming discussion
- AI governance and safety are expected to feature in the planned Xi-Trump meeting