US and China experts urge rules banning AI control of nuclear weapons
Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution and Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University released a set of proposals aimed at preventing artificial‑intelligence systems from making autonomous decisions about nuclear weapons.
Key points
- Melanie Sisson and Tianjiao Jiang propose banning autonomous AI launches of nuclear weapons.
- They recommend a bilateral AI incident hotline before the Trump‑Xi meeting on September 24.
- Carla Freeman doubts the hotline’s effectiveness, citing the 2023 spy‑balloon crisis.
The proposals draw clear red lines: no AI system may launch nuclear weapons or attack nuclear command structures on its own, and humans must retain sole authority over AI‑driven cyberattacks on strategic infrastructure. The authors also call for a shared definition of “human control” and suggest a bilateral hotline for AI‑related incidents, noting that a defensive AI response could be misread as an attack.
The call echoes the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence’s 2021 recommendation to keep humans in the loop for nuclear weapons. However, binding mechanisms have not yet been created. Carla Freeman of Johns Hopkins University questions whether a hotline would function, pointing to the 2023 spy‑balloon crisis when China did not answer a US call.
US and China experts push for shared rules banning AI control over nuclear weapons
The Decoder · 18 September 2026
US and China experts push for shared rules banning AI control over nuclear weapons
Experts from the US and China want to prevent AI systems from making autonomous decisions about deploying nuclear weapons. Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution and Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University published specific proposals ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Xi on September 24.
The proposals spell out several red lines. No AI system should be allowed to launch nuclear weapons on its own or attack nuclear command systems. Humans must retain sole control over AI-driven cyberattacks on strategic infrastructure. Both countries should agree on a shared definition of "human control." The recommendations build on an agreement Biden and Xi reached in November 2024.
Jiang also proposes a hotline for AI incidents. If a defensive AI system automatically responds to suspicious activity, the other side might read it as an attack. A direct line would let one government clarify that an incident was accidental before the situation escalates.
This isn't the first time someone has raised the alarm. The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) called for preserving human control over nuclear weapons back in 2021. Binding mechanisms still don't exist, though. Carla Freeman of Johns Hopkins University questions whether such hotlines would even work. During the spy balloon crisis in 2023, China didn't pick up when the US called.
This text was published by The Decoder and written by Manuel Uth. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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