US and China race to shape AI agenda ahead of Xi-Trump talks in Shenzhen, sources say

The United States and China are actively negotiating a framework for handling AI-related incidents and establishing regular bilateral dialogue, according to multiple sources. Technical teams from both countries aim to incorporate AI cooperation into the agenda when Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen next month.

This marks their third face-to-face discussion on AI this year. The AI issue has gained more prominence in recent conversations between the two nations as they explore avenues to formalize cooperation. Following President Xi's September visit to the US, where they announced plans to set up a bilateral channel for AI-related incidents and launch a China-US AI dialogue, the two countries have conducted extensive working-level talks.

While the White House and Chinese officials have outlined the dialogue's objectives to exchange views on the risks and benefits of AI and create a communication channel for AI-related incidents, concrete details remain unclear. The two leaders' Shenzhen meeting could potentially result in a framework for addressing AI crises and, possibly, a continuing institutional mechanism for AI cooperation involving government officials, research institutions, and industry representatives.

AI has become a politically significant area, demonstrating that strategic competition does not exclude reasonable cooperation between the US and China.