Descriptions:
Nathan Labenz of the Cognitive Revolution podcast returns from two weeks in China with a deep-dive into the country’s AI safety ecosystem — its research culture, institutional landscape, and relationship to the global safety community. This second installment of his “Nathan Goes to China” series focuses specifically on how Chinese researchers and institutions conceptualize and practice AI safety, drawing on conversations conducted under Chatham House rules.
Labenz describes attending the launch of a new AI safety hub at one of China’s top universities, where Western organizations like Apollo Research, Palisade, the UK AI Safety Institute, and Redwood Research were cited as direct inspirations. The hub is actively seeking international researchers for residencies and plans to fund students at global counterparts including Constellation and LISA — signaling an openness to cross-border collaboration that challenges the common assumption that China is indifferent to AI safety concerns.
A central thesis of the episode is debunking what Labenz calls the “but China” endpoint of AI safety policy debates — the argument that Western regulation is futile because China will never slow down. He argues this is demonstrably false: China has historically restrained its AI companies on safety grounds, and a growing institutional infrastructure shows genuine commitment to the field. The episode sets up a planned third installment analyzing the US-China AI relationship and prospects for international cooperation.
📺 Source: Cognitive Revolution “How AI Changes Everything” · Published August 02, 2026
🏷️ Format: Podcast
