US and China discuss AI safety plan ahead of Trump-Xi summit

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks in New York to establish a notification mechanism for AI incidents that could impact national security. The meeting took place ahead of the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. The discussion on AI safety came as both nations grappled with concerns over the technology's potential risks and calls for a more cautious approach from industry leaders.

Bessent emphasized the importance of transparency between the world's leading AI powers, stating that moving from "opaque to more transparency" is crucial. The talks also covered other topics, such as plans to operationalize a process to identify potential tariff cuts, which are set to expire on November 10th. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the two sides engaged in "candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges" on key economic and trade issues, including AI.

Bessent claimed that the discussions would help lay the groundwork for Trump to advance America's economic interests and deliver results for the American people. Despite growing calls for slower AI development, Trump has dismissed such concerns, arguing that the U.S. cannot afford to fall behind China in the technology race.