China vows to 'take all necessary measures' in response to US robot ban — how big of a threat do Chinese bots actually pose?

“If the United States continues to rely on foreign sources of advanced robotic devices and critical components, it will subject the parts of the U.S. economy and national security enterprise that are reliant on these robots to the whims of foreign entities that could disrupt or degrade the supply chains at a time of their choosing.”

Do the benefits of cheaper Chinese tech outweigh the hazards?

Trump has been particularly hesitant to rely on China as it rises in artificial intelligence, EVs and other technologies, especially in cases where it would potentially entail not only handing over economic control, but also American data.

In the case of Chinese AI, it could give foreign powers access to everything from user information and habits to other U.S. intelligence, all of which is stored in servers tightly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CPP). Some Chinese chatbots, which may have been co-opting American tech rather than through proprietary innovation, have also been found to disseminate CPP propaganda.

As for the physical robots, the government admitted to being anxious about their ability to document and map their surroundings using LiDAR and other high-fidelity sensors, thus manufacturers’ capacity to leverage all sorts of data to “enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services” or for other purposes.

China’s response

As the tech feud escalates, China stated that “for any action that causes substantive harm to ⁠Chinese interests, China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”

It also accused U.S. officials of market distortion, unilateral bullying and AI hegemonism. It promised to “resolutely retaliate” against the import embargo.