China Calls Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s AI Slowdown Plan a ‘Cold War’ Strategy

China has sharply criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s proposal to slow the development of advanced artificial intelligence, arguing that calls for stronger AI safeguards and tighter technology restrictions are coinbureau being used to contain Beijing’s technological rise.

The state-backed Global Times described Amodei’s proposal as a “Cold War playbook,” according to reporting by Reuters. The criticism comes as Washington and Beijing increasingly treat advanced AI capabilities as both an economic asset and a strategic technology.

China Challenges Amodei’s AI Safety Proposal

Amodei recently argued that the development of frontier AI systems should be paced more carefully to give governments and researchers additional time to address potential safety risks. His proposal includes stronger independent oversight and international standards for advanced AI development.

At the same time, Amodei has urged Washington to maintain restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China. He has also called for measures targeting unauthorized efforts by Chinese AI companies to extract capabilities from leading U.S. models.

Those recommendations have become the central point of Beijing’s criticism. The Global Times argued that measures presented as AI safety policies could instead reinforce U.S. technological dominance and restrict China’s ability to compete in advanced computing.

China’s Foreign Ministry has separately called for an open and cooperative approach to AI governance, warning that confrontation and geopolitical competition markets could complicate international efforts to manage the technology.

Trump Rejects Calls to Slow AI Development

The dispute also highlights a significant policy difference between Amodei’s position and that of President Donald Trump.

Trump has rejected calls to slow the U.S. AI industry, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an advantage over China. He said, “Whoever wins AI wins,” framing technological leadership as a strategic priority for the United States.

Amodei’s proposal has nevertheless gained support from other prominent technology executives, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, adding weight to the argument for greater safeguards even as policymakers remain divided over how quickly AI development should proceed.

The disagreement has implications beyond AI regulation. Restrictions on advanced chips, access to computing infrastructure and international safety standards could influence the competitive position of technology companies in both countries.

The next major test may come through planned U.S.-China discussions on AI safety, with the issue potentially reaching the agenda of a September 24 meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.