China Calls Anthropic CEO’s AI Slowdown Plan a Cold War Playbook

China has pushed back against a proposal to slow advanced artificial intelligence development, turning a debate over AI safety into a wider dispute over technology and national competition. The response followed an essay from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who called for tighter safeguards and slower progress in frontier AI systems. China’s state-backed Global Times described the proposal as a “Cold War playbook” targeting the country’s technological development.

The dispute also drew attention after the Coin Bureau account shared the development on X. Its post said Beijing had criticized Amodei’s position and linked the debate to U.S. efforts to restrict advanced AI technology exports to China.

Key Takeaways

• China has condemned the AI slowdown proposal made by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, considering it as a “Cold War” approach to technological rivalry.
• Dario Amodei advocates the need for slower advancement in frontier AI technologies to ensure sufficient time for safety research to be in sync with the development of more potent AI.
• Amodei has advocated for stringent measures on AI chips supplied to China, arguing that access to advanced computing hardware plays an important role in the advancement of frontier AI.
• China has rejected the idea of geopolitical AI rivalry and insisted on international cooperation in AI policy.
• Donald Trump has taken a different view and said there is no need for any slowdown in AI technologies in the United States compared to China.
• The discussion links AI safety and semiconductor policies because advanced AI requires substantial computational capability.

Amodei Calls for Slower Frontier AI Development

Amodei published an essay outlining a framework he calls “pacing the frontier.” He argued that AI capabilities are advancing faster than safety research can keep up. He pointed to recursive self-improvement as one reason for caution, referring to AI systems becoming capable of helping develop more advanced AI systems.

His proposal does not call for stopping AI development altogether. Instead, it seeks to slow the rate at which frontier models gain new capabilities. Amodei proposed independent safety evaluators, cooperation among AI companies, and common safety standards among democratic countries. He also called for international coordination on AI risks.

Amodei also addressed China directly. He urged the United States to maintain restrictions on advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplied to China, arguing that access to computing hardware will shape China’s ability to develop increasingly capable AI systems.

Beijing Rejects the AI Containment Argument

China’s response focused on the technology restrictions within Amodei’s proposal. Global Times argued that the measures could restrict China’s AI development through technology barriers. It also accused Washington of seeking to maintain an advantage in advanced technology.

China’s Foreign Ministry took a broader position on the dispute. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said confrontation and aggressive competition could disrupt international efforts to establish AI governance. Beijing has also called for greater international cooperation on artificial intelligence.

The disagreement reflects a technical divide in AI development. Advanced models require large amounts of computing power, which depends heavily on high-end chips and data-center infrastructure. Restrictions on those resources can therefore affect how quickly companies train and deploy increasingly capable models.

Trump Rejects Calls to Slow the AI Race

The debate has also exposed differences within the United States. President Donald Trump rejected calls for Washington to slow AI development because of safety concerns. During a visit to Ireland, Trump said the United States should maintain its lead over China and stated that “whoever wins AI, wins.”

Trump’s position contrasts with Amodei’s proposal for a slower pace. Other technology leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, have expressed support for pacing frontier AI development. Altman has also said that pacing does not mean stopping AI progress.

AI Safety and US-China Competition Converge

The disagreement now combines two separate questions: how quickly advanced AI should develop and how much access China should have to the technology behind it. Amodei has argued that both issues need to be addressed as AI capabilities advance.

China, meanwhile, has rejected the framing of tighter restrictions as a neutral safety measure. Global Times has linked those policies to broader efforts to limit China’s technological progress. The debate is expected to remain part of wider discussions over AI governance, semiconductor controls, and competition between Washington and Beijing.