The United States and China have agreed to create a protocol on best practices for artificial intelligence safety during talks in Beijing in May 2026. The discussions took place on the sidelines of a two-day meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a rare moment of cooperation between the two AI superpowers [1, 2].
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the talks reflect America’s lead in AI technology development. He explained, "The reason we are able to have wholesome discussions with the Chinese on AI is because we are in the lead. I do not think we would be having the same discussions if they were this far ahead of us" [1, 2]. Bessent added that the objective is to ensure non-state actors do not gain access to advanced AI models and that the protocol will focus on shared safety practices [1].
Bessent also pointed to a forthcoming leap in large language model capabilities from Google Gemini and OpenAI, describing it as a "step-function jump" in AI technology [1, 2].
A significant aspect of the US strategy involves limiting China’s access to advanced AI hardware. Washington has imposed restrictions on sales of cutting-edge semiconductors, with Nvidia chips as a key focus. Bessent noted there has been "a lot of back and forth" regarding US clearance of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to Chinese tech firms [1, 2]. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Trump’s delegation as a late addition, highlighting the importance of chip technology in the talks [1, 2].
Aside from technology, Beijing emphasized Taiwan as the top issue in the bilateral meeting. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan is a democratically governed island. Bessent said President Trump would provide further statements on Taiwan in the coming days [1, 2].
The first major meeting between Trump and Xi took place on May 14, 2026, marking the official start of the AI talks during Trump’s visit to Beijing. The same day, Bessent gave interviews detailing the talks, the US AI lead, and semiconductor export restrictions [1, 2].
