Global AI safety is hinging on U.S.-China cooperation, but they see each other as the problem

Concern over the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) is prompting hopes for global cooperation between the United States and China, despite their ongoing skepticism of each other's AI strategies. The topic is expected to be discussed during an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington.

American tech leaders have emphasized the importance of cooperation with China to prevent potential worst-case scenarios of rogue AI, while both countries are striving to gain a decisive advantage in the AI field.

President Trump has expressed concerns that any attempts to regulate AI technology could benefit China. He believes that the nation leading in AI "wins," and he has repeatedly declared that the U.S. is currently ahead of China. However, the two countries are pursuing AI development along different paths. U.S. companies are focusing on AI breakthroughs through powerful computing resources, advanced chips, and expanding data center infrastructure.

In contrast, China is adopting a more open-source approach, aiming for global adoption of affordable models.

While U.S. companies are developing closed-source AI models, Chinese AI models have gained significant traction, even as the U.S. imposes restrictions preventing China from accessing advanced AI chips. American AI leaders, such as Anthropic and OpenAI, have called for keeping China in check and cooperation with China to manage AI safety.

However, they also emphasize the need for U.S. restrictions on China's access to advanced AI chips to protect national security. Nevertheless, these leaders acknowledge the necessity of global cooperation in AI governance.

On the other hand, China's state-run Global Times newspaper dismissed such calls for cooperation, accusing the U.S. of attempting to contain China in the AI sector. Both countries are increasingly worried about emerging AI capabilities, which have been found to pose threats to political, ideological, and cyber security. The head of China's Ministry of State Security has warned of potential AI-related dangers, including weaponizing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threatening critical information infrastructure.