The United States and China are preparing to hold high-level artificial intelligence talks in September, marking the first formal AI dialogue between the two countries under President Donald Trump's current administration. The discussions are expected to take place ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned U.S. visit on September 24 and stem from commitments made during the Trump–Xi summit earlier this year.
The talks are expected to focus on managing the risks posed by increasingly powerful frontier AI models, including military applications, cybersecurity threats, intellectual property protection, and the economic impact of advanced AI. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to lead the American delegation, while both sides continue to finalize the agenda and participating officials.
The planned meeting comes amid rising tensions over AI competition. Washington has recently warned that Chinese AI companies could face sanctions if they are found to have developed models using stolen U.S. intellectual property, while concerns over AI model distillation, chip export controls, and access to advanced AI technologies continue to strain relations between the two countries.
Despite their strategic rivalry, both governments recognize the need for dialogue as AI becomes increasingly important to national security and the global economy. Officials hope the discussions will establish common ground on AI governance, safety standards, and responsible development while reducing the risk of misunderstandings as both nations race to lead the next generation of AI innovation.
