Concerns Rise Over Chinese AI Models Impacting Global Security and Economy
Growing Influence of Chinese AI
Photo: @ChinaScience/X
New Delhi, April 3: The rapid rise of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models is causing alarm among US officials, who are concerned about potential threats to national security, supply chains, and economic standing, as highlighted in a recent report.
According to an analysis by War on the Rocks, the share of Chinese AI systems in global workloads jumped from a mere 1% in late 2024 to nearly 30% by the end of 2025.
Companies like Alibaba, along with newer entrants such as DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax, are increasingly deploying these models across various sectors, including academic research and business solutions.
The report emphasizes that while many of these models are open-source and accessible, they are created within China's legal framework, which mandates cooperation with national intelligence, raising alarms about potential data access by government authorities.
Experts mentioned in the report caution that the extensive use of these models could lead to the exposure of sensitive data, as users depend on AI for proprietary code, business strategies, and confidential communications.
The analysis outlines four primary concerns for the US: vulnerabilities in AI supply chains, risks of intelligence gathering, enhanced capabilities for malicious entities, and long-term economic displacement.
A significant issue raised is the challenge of auditing AI models for hidden vulnerabilities or 'backdoors', particularly within open-source environments.
Additionally, security researchers have discovered that compromised datasets can contain harmful instructions that are difficult to identify during routine checks.
The report also highlights the dangers of data exposure when AI systems process user inputs through servers based in China, especially when developers utilize these models via application programming interfaces (APIs).
Furthermore, Chinese AI models reportedly lack the robust safety measures found in their Western counterparts, making them more prone to misuse, including the generation of harmful code or facilitating cyberattacks.
Economically, the increasing adoption of affordable Chinese models poses a threat to US companies, particularly in price-sensitive markets and developing regions, where these models are becoming the preferred option.
The report suggests that rather than imposing outright bans, policymakers should prioritize transparency, establish minimum safety standards, and ensure supply chain accountability to address risks while preserving competitiveness.