The United States and China are set to hold high-level talks on artificial intelligence (AI) in September as the world’s two largest economies seek to reduce the growing risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.
According to people familiar with the plans, the landmark discussions are expected to take place before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States on September 24, although the exact date and venue have yet to be finalized.
The planned dialogue follows agreements reached during the Trump-Xi summit in May and will mark the first official government-to-government AI talks between Washington and Beijing under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Sources said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will head the American delegation, while China is still deciding which ministries and senior officials will participate.
Officials from both countries are reportedly still discussing the agenda, participants and venue for the meeting.
Neither the White House nor Chinese authorities have officially confirmed the discussions.The planned talks come amid intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing over artificial intelligence, which has become one of the world’s most strategically important technologies.
Both governments are increasingly concerned that next-generation AI models could:
- Enhance military capabilities;
- Power sophisticated cyberattacks;
- Threaten critical national infrastructure;
- Spread misinformation;
- Transform labour markets; and
- Shift the global balance of technological leadership.
The two countries are therefore exploring ways to regulate advanced AI systems while continuing to compete for technological dominance.
Although former U.S. President Joe Biden and President Xi agreed in 2024 that humans—not artificial intelligence should retain control over decisions involving nuclear weapons, the upcoming meeting will be the first formal AI dialogue between the two governments since President Trump returned to office.
The discussions are expected to establish communication channels on AI governance as both countries accelerate investment in frontier technologies.
Artificial intelligence has become another major point of tension in U.S.-China relations.
The United States has already restricted exports of advanced AI chips to China in an effort to slow Beijing’s technological progress.
Washington is also reportedly considering tighter controls on Chinese-developed open-weight AI models over national security concerns.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities are evaluating restrictions on overseas access to some of China’s most advanced AI systems amid fears they could be exploited for cyberattacks or other malicious purposes.
The talks are expected to address issues including:
- Regulation of frontier AI models;
- AI safety standards;
- Export controls on advanced chips;
- Release of future powerful AI systems;
- Cybersecurity risks; and
- Preventing powerful AI technologies from reaching non-state actors.
Earlier this year, Treasury Secretary Bessent said future discussions would focus on preventing the proliferation of advanced AI models to organizations that could misuse them.
Analysts say Beijing hopes the dialogue will focus on practical cooperation rather than political disagreements.
Chinese officials are expected to seek greater clarity on how Washington intends to regulate future frontier AI systems and whether additional restrictions will be placed on Chinese-developed AI models.
The Trump administration is also consulting American AI companies on voluntary safety standards for releasing increasingly powerful AI models, although no formal regulations have yet been announced.
Technology experts believe the September meeting is unlikely to produce major agreements but could establish the groundwork for future cooperation.
Paul Triolo, a partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, said both governments are likely to begin by agreeing on basic definitions and common principles, including what qualifies as a frontier AI model.
Analysts say regular dialogue between the world’s two AI superpowers could help reduce misunderstandings and improve global coordination on emerging artificial intelligence risks.
As AI rapidly reshapes global security, economic competitiveness and technological innovation, the outcome of the September talks will be closely watched by governments, technology companies and investors around the world.
