Historic AI Safety Talks Between US and China Scheduled for September
In a landmark diplomatic development, the United States and China are planning to hold formal talks on artificial intelligence this September. This marks the first official AI dialogue between the two superpowers under President Donald Trump’s administration. The news, first reported by Reuters and confirmed by five sources familiar with the matter, signals a pivotal shift in how the world’s two leading AI powers manage the risks of their increasingly capable frontier models.
The talks are expected to be led on the American side by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. They are likely to take place ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned September 24 visit to the United States. These meetings are a direct outcome of the Trump-Xi summit held in Beijing in May 2026, where both leaders discussed emerging technology risks. However, no final dates or venue have been confirmed yet.
The core agenda of the talks is expected to focus on:
- Restricting access to advanced AI models by non-state actors
- Establishing shared frameworks for frontier AI governance
Analysts note that the significance of the meeting lies not just in any potential agreement, but in the very act of two rival superpowers opening a structured channel for AI risk management. With the global AI governance landscape remaining fragmented and export control tensions still simmering, these talks could set a precedent for international cooperation in the AI era.
Source: CNBC — U.S., China to hold AI talks in September, Reuters sources say