US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded their summit in Washington without reaching a major agreement on artificial intelligence (AI), amid international concerns about the rapid development of the technology. Over the course of the three-day summit, the leaders discussed a variety of pressing issues, including the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, the status of Taiwan, and trade relations. The primary policy outcome was an extension of the current trade truce between the two nations for an additional two months.
AI was a significant topic during their discussions. President Xi emphasized the shared responsibility of the United States and China to develop and manage AI responsibly, ensuring the technology remains under human control. He advocated for increased cooperation between the two countries to address AI development and its potential risks. Despite these discussions, no specific framework, working group, or agreement was announced to address the development of advanced AI systems or establish common safety standards.
President Trump reiterated the importance of the United States maintaining its technological lead over China and introduced his preferred term “super intelligence” for advanced AI during the summit. However, details regarding the leaders’ conversations on this subject remain limited.
This summit was notable as it marked the first visit by a Chinese president to the White House in over a decade. During the visit, Trump and Xi also toured the National Archives, where they viewed significant US founding documents.
The two leaders are expected to meet again later this year at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China and the G20 summit in the United States, providing further opportunities for dialogue on AI and other critical issues.