U.S. officials flagged concerns over China's "misuse" of artificial intelligence in their first formal bilateral talks on the issue, the White House said on Wednesday, as the superpowers seek to avoid confrontation over the fast-developing technology.

During the meetings in Geneva on Tuesday, the U.S. delegation also stressed to their Chinese counterparts the need to "maintain open lines of communication on AI risk and safety as an important part of responsibly managing competition," the White House said.

"The United States also raised concerns over the misuse of AI, including by (the People's Republic of China)," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson added.

Worries are mounting among U.S. officials about China's access to AI technology, amid fears that it could be used by Beijing to upend elections in other countries, create bioweapons and launch cyberattacks.