US and China discuss AI safety plan ahead of Trump-Xi summit
Top US and Chinese officials held talks in New York on Sunday ahead of a Trump-Xi summit this week.
US and China discuss AI safety plan ahead of Trump-Xi summit
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met China's Vice Premier He Lifeng
Top US and Chinese officials have talked about setting up a new "notification mechanism" for AI incidents that could affect national security, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Sunday.
Bessent made the remarks after what he described as "successful" talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York.
The meeting took place as US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are set to hold a summit in Washington later this week.
AI has faced intense scrutiny in recent days after researchers warned about the possible risks posed by the technology and some of the industry's most high profile figures urged developers to take a more cautious approach.
"We think that, just like with any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the number one and the number two AI powers in the world is very important," Bessent told reporters after the talks.
He said the meeting also addressed other issues, including plans to "operationalise" a process to identify possible tariff cuts on goods called the Board of Trade.
A truce in the tariffs war between the world's two biggest economies is due to expire on 10 November.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua said the two sides had "candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on key economic and trade issues", adding that they had discussed AI.
Bessent said in a post on X on Sunday that the talks "help lay the groundwork for President Trump to advance America's economic interests and deliver results for the American people."
The US and China are locked in a race to dominate the AI and technology industries.
In recent days Washington has faced calls to slow the development of AI over fears abouts its potential negative impact on humanity.
Trump has largely dismissed those concerns, arguing that there are sufficient policies around AI and that the US cannot lose its edge to China.
He said earlier this month "whoever wins in AI, wins."