Trump and Xi to discuss AI risks at upcoming summit

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss artificial‑intelligence risks during their scheduled summit in Washington next week, adding a new urgency to a meeting already focused on trade, climate and security. Trump has publicly dismissed the idea that AI could pose an existential threat, calling it a “hoax,” a stance that analysts say mirrors Beijing’s cautious approach to the technology. The two leaders are expected to hear briefings from senior advisers on the potential dangers of unchecked AI development and how it could affect global stability.

The AI debate has entered the diplomatic spotlight after a series of high‑profile warnings from scientists and technologists. In March, a coalition of AI researchers signed an open letter urging governments to set safety standards, citing recent breakthroughs in large language models that can generate realistic text, images and code. The United States and China together account for more than 70 % of global AI investment, and both have launched national strategies to become leaders in the field. Critics argue that the race for dominance could lead to a “race to the bottom” on safety, while both governments have so far resisted calls for binding international agreements. Recent incidents, such as an AI‑generated disinformation campaign that briefly disrupted a stock exchange, have heightened concerns about the technology’s misuse.

In the coming days, senior officials from the State Department and the National Security Council will meet with Chinese counterparts to outline a possible framework for cooperation on AI safety. They are expected to propose joint research on verification methods, data‑sharing protocols and crisis‑communication channels to prevent accidental escalation. If an agreement is reached, it could set a precedent for future tech‑focused diplomacy and signal to the private sector that governments are taking the threat seriously. Failure to find common ground, however, could deepen mistrust and accelerate a fragmented global AI landscape, raising the stakes for policymakers worldwide.