U.S. And China’s Competition Over Frontier Models Intensifies. They Will Now Hold AI Talks

The United States and China are preparing to hold official talks on artificial intelligence in September, marking the first government-level dialogue on the technology between the two countries during President Donald Trump's second administration.

The planned meeting comes as Washington and Beijing continue to compete over advanced AI development while managing broader tensions involving trade, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and regional security issues. It also follows recent conflicts in the Middle East and continued concerns among governments about the role increasingly sophisticated AI systems could play in military planning, cyber operations, and critical infrastructure. The talks are expected to take place ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the United States on Sept. 24.

Five people familiar with the matter told Reuters that the discussions were one of the outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit held in Beijing in May and are currently expected to take place in September, although the date and venue have not yet been finalized. Four of the sources said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to lead the American delegation.

Participants from both countries, as well as the agenda for the meeting, remain under discussion, according to Reuters. The White House, State Department, Treasury Department and several Chinese government agencies had not publicly commented on the plans as of Tuesday.

The meeting would represent the first official AI dialogue between Washington and Beijing under Trump. During the Biden administration, officials from both countries held working-level AI discussions in Geneva in 2024 that resulted in an agreement that humans, rather than artificial intelligence systems, should retain control over decisions involving nuclear weapons, according to Reuters.

Artificial intelligence has become one of the central issues in U.S.-China relations alongside tariffs, export controls, and access to advanced semiconductors. Washington has restricted exports of some advanced AI chips to China on national security grounds, while Beijing has accelerated investment in domestic AI development and promoted open-source models globally.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping used the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai to promote China's vision for global AI governance, emphasizing open access and international cooperation. The conference featured more than 1,100 companies and hundreds of robotics and AI exhibits, highlighting China's growing ambitions in the sector, according to The Associated Press.

The talks are also taking shape as both governments consider additional restrictions involving AI technologies. China has been evaluating tighter controls on overseas access to its most advanced AI models and semiconductor technologies, while U.S. officials have discussed potential limits involving Chinese-developed open-weight AI systems, according to the Financial Times.

Scott Bessent said in May that future discussions would be aimed at preventing the proliferation of powerful AI models to non-state actors, according to remarks previously reported by Reuters. The Treasury secretary added at the time that meetings could begin within four to eight weeks following the Trump-Xi summit.

Analysts say the initial discussions are expected to focus on technical issues rather than broader political disputes. Paul Triolo, a partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, told Reuters that the two countries could seek agreement on foundational definitions, including what constitutes a frontier AI model, during the opening round of talks.

The planned dialogue comes at a time when both countries are increasing efforts to shape global standards for artificial intelligence. At a recent United Nations AI forum, U.S. officials argued against excessive regulation that could slow innovation, while Chinese representatives promoted low-cost, open-source models as a way to expand access to the technology worldwide.