In May 2026, during their meeting in Beijing, the heads of state of China and the United States held constructive exchanges on artificial intelligence and agreed to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on AI. As two major AI powers, China and the United States should work together to advance the development and governance of artificial intelligence, so that AI can better serve the progress of human civilization and the shared well-being of the international community. Since October 2019, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution have jointly held the China-U.S. Track 2 Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and International Security, conducting a total of 14 rounds of discussions on issues related to artificial intelligence.

From 2024 to 2025, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue co-hosted a series of four dialogues between Chinese and European experts on the potential risks arising from the development of artificial intelligence technologies and their impact on international security.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are currently being widely applied in humanitarian action, offering significant potential to improve efficiency. However, they also bring potential security risks and challenges. Against this backdrop, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), held the Symposium on the Responsible Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action in Beijing from December 4 to 5, 2025.

Based on these exchanges, this report focuses on exploring the possible pathways through which non-state actors may misuse AI, the associated risks, and the potential implications for international security. It also analyzes how these risks can be mitigated at both the national level and through international cooperation. The report aims to provide a reference for understanding this complex issue and to contribute constructive insights to ongoing policy discussions.