The United States and China are set to hold high-level discussions on artificial intelligence policy this coming September, according to a report by Reuters citing sources familiar with the matter. The upcoming talks will primarily focus on how both superpowers can safely manage and regulate frontier AI models amid an accelerating global technology race.
This landmark summit will mark the first official AI-focused dialogue between the two nations under President Donald Trump’s administration. The meeting is anticipated to take place ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to the US on September 24. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to lead the American delegation.
While preliminary preparations are underway, the official agenda, venue, and final list of attendees remain unconfirmed as officials on both sides finalize internal strategies.
According to Reuters, both Washington and Beijing share growing anxieties regarding the rapid pace of AI development. Key areas of concern include potential risks to national security, military escalation, cyber warfare capabilities, and broader disruptions to global labor markets.
In addition to safety governance, intellectual property rights are expected to feature prominently. Treasury Secretary Bessent highlighted lingering concerns over IP integrity, noting instances where digital watermarks from leading US AI models were reportedly detected within Chinese systems.
China has reportedly expressed a preference for direct, technical discussions over broader political debates. While analysts and policy experts caution that a single summit is unlikely to resolve major strategic tensions, the dialogue offers a crucial opportunity to establish foundational guardrails—such as agreeing on standardized definitions for “advanced frontier AI models.”
