In China, AI doomsday warnings often feel remote and distinctly Western, with many viewing them as a tactic to hinder Chinese AI companies from overtaking U.S. rivals. The idea that the Communist Party could lose control over AI is seen as almost unfathomable, given the government's proven ability to manage crises like the pandemic through city-wide lockdowns and mass digital surveillance. Afra Wang, a Silicon Valley-based tech writer focusing on AI and technology in China, noted the state's intense power over the physical world, questioning how one could convince the party that AI living on a computer is scary.

Jie Cai, formerly researching human-computer interaction and AI safety at Tsinghua University, said existential risk feels like a distant priority, with industry focus remaining on opportunity and innovation. Some bloggers compare Western AI fears to Christian narratives like Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein," arguing such traditions do not exist in Chinese culture. Liang Fang, head of AI safety and governance at Concordia, an AI safety consultancy based in Beijing, explained that Chinese concepts of heaven and humanity emphasize harmony, viewing technology as a companion in coexistence rather than an outside destructive force.