US and China Hold First AI Dialogue; US Proposes Incident Notification Mechanism

The United States and China have initiated their first formal dialogue on artificial intelligence, marking a significant shift in diplomatic engagement despite public disagreements on regulation. The talks occurred after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York earlier in the week.

Diplomatic Positions

• US Stance: President Donald Trump publicly rejected formal AI guardrails, stating he wanted to leave the issue "exactly where it is" and citing the DOJ as the current safeguard. However, behind the scenes, the US delegation proposed a notification mechanism between the two countries for national security-related AI incidents.
• China Stance: President Xi Jinping emphasized cooperation, stating that both nations have the "capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good" and ensure development remains under human control.

Industry Pressure

The diplomatic moves follow a direct appeal from the CEOs of two major American AI companies to the UN Security Council. They characterized AI as a threat to global security and urged world governments to establish shared rules, creating pressure for international frameworks even as the White House maintains a hands-off public posture.