Ahead of an anticipated summit between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping, U.S. and Chinese officials described talks on artificial intelligence and trade as constructive. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who met China's Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York over the weekend, said the United States had proposed setting up AI incident alert systems as part of the discussions, a mechanism intended to help both countries flag and respond to serious problems with AI systems before they escalate.
The talks reflect a broader global scramble to build guardrails around artificial intelligence as the technology advances faster than regulation has kept pace. In the United States, reports indicated President Trump plans to create what has been described as an AI Force to monitor the technology, amid growing concern in Washington and elsewhere about AI agents operating with too little oversight. Details of how such a body would function were still emerging as of Monday.
China, for its part, signaled its own ambitions on the global stage. President Xi said China would take the lead in fostering AI and technology cooperation among the BRICS group of major emerging economies, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa along with several newer members, positioning Beijing as a hub for AI cooperation outside traditional Western-led forums.
The AI policy conversation is not confined to Washington and Beijing. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential future presidential contender, separately renewed his call for regulation of artificial intelligence, citing concerns over how quickly the technology is advancing, adding to a growing chorus of American officials at both the state and federal level pressing for clearer rules.
Watch for whether AI governance appears on the formal agenda of the Trump-Xi summit, and for any concrete details on the proposed U.S. AI incident alert system.
What is an AI incident alert system?
It is a proposed mechanism, raised by the U.S. in talks with China, meant to help flag and respond quickly to serious problems arising from AI systems.
What is BRICS?
BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and has since added other members.