US and China to Launch AI Safety Talks After Trump-Xi Summit

The accelerating capabilities of artificial intelligence have created shared risks that neither the United States nor China can contain alone, from potential misuse by nonstate actors to uncontrolled escalation. Following the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the two countries will begin formal discussions on guardrails, including protocols to keep advanced models out of unauthorized hands.

Bessent, speaking to CNBC from the Chinese capital, described the effort as the first such bilateral engagement on AI safety during President Trump's second term. He noted that talks would focus on best practices to prevent hackers or terrorists from obtaining powerful systems. The announcement came amid a delegation that included Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, who joined the trip after a last-minute addition, along with Elon Musk, Tim Cook and others.

Competition remains the dominant backdrop. Bessent stated that the United States holds a lead in AI development and would seek to embed its preferred standards. Experts in both countries have pointed to differing threat priorities: American researchers often emphasize existential risks from super-intelligent systems, while Chinese counterparts focus more on information control and social stability. Shared concerns, such as AI-assisted biological weapons, have been cited by researchers on each side.

The summit produced limited immediate commercial announcements. Comments attributed to Trump indicated agreement on the purchase of 200 Boeing jets, a figure below earlier expectations and the volume recorded during his 2017 visit. Reports of approvals allowing select Chinese firms to purchase Nvidia's H200 chip surfaced in some coverage but could not be independently verified across multiple outlets. Huang, when pressed on progress, offered only that he had enjoyed the visit.

Analysts described the meetings as aimed at establishing a baseline for relations rather than securing large transactions. Some executives remained in China after Trump's departure to pursue further regulatory discussions. The outcome leaves open whether positive atmospherics will translate into concrete approvals or investment openings in the months ahead.