AI tops agenda as Trump meets Xi
US President Donald Trump said artificial intelligence will be a key topic in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but indicated both leaders prefer to maintain the status quo. The meeting comes after the US and China agreed to extend a trade truce for two months. The discussions are expected to cover AI risks, particularly in military and security contexts, amid ongoing technological competition.
The Thursday summit between Trump and Xi follows a two-month extension of the US-China trade truce, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after his second meeting in four days with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Bessent's remarks to Fox News came just hours before the leaders' scheduled talks, signaling both sides' willingness to keep negotiating a broader trade agreement.
Trump's social media post emphasized his preference for the term "super intelligence" when referring to AI, and stressed that both leaders want to maintain the current arrangement. The discussions are expected to address AI risks in military and security applications, with the US seeking to preserve its technological edge while China pushes for relaxed restrictions on advanced technology access for its companies.
This meeting could shape the trajectory of US-China tech relations for the coming months, affecting global semiconductor markets and companies operating in both countries. The emphasis on maintaining the status quo may provide temporary stability for tech industries, though unresolved AI governance questions could create uncertainty for firms developing military or security applications. The outcome may influence how other nations approach AI regulation and international cooperation on emerging technology risks.