Introduction
The United States and China are exploring a new framework for communicating about major artificial intelligence risks as the two countries prepare for a high-level summit between their leaders.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng concluded talks in New York on September 20, where Washington proposed creating a bilateral AI safety notification mechanism. The proposal would focus on sharing information about artificial intelligence incidents that rise to the level of national security concerns.
The discussions come at a time when the United States and China are competing intensely over advanced AI, semiconductor technology and critical minerals. The proposed communication channel could provide a way for the two countries to discuss AI-related risks even as their broader technological competition continues.
US Proposes AI Safety Notification System
According to Reuters, Bessent said the United States proposed establishing a new US-China AI dialogue that would include a notification system for significant AI-related incidents.
The proposed mechanism would focus on “common goals and common threats” and would cover AI incidents that reach a national-security level, Bessent said. He argued that greater transparency between the world’s two leading AI powers could help reduce risks associated with rapidly developing technology.
The proposal is still under consideration and does not represent a finalized agreement between Washington and Beijing.
Why AI Safety Has Become a US-China Issue
Artificial intelligence has increasingly become a strategic issue for both countries.
The United States and China are among the world’s most important developers and deployers of advanced AI systems. Their competition extends beyond consumer chatbots to advanced computing, semiconductor technology, military applications, autonomous systems and AI infrastructure.
Reuters previously reported that Washington wanted discussions with China to include cooperation on monitoring AI-directed cyberattacks and potentially encouraging AI laboratories to share information about threats.
The growing capabilities of autonomous AI systems have added urgency to those discussions.
What Would an AI Notification Mechanism Do?
A notification mechanism could theoretically provide a communication channel for governments to alert each other about serious AI incidents.
Potential areas of discussion could include-
The precise scope of the proposed system has not yet been finalized.
Bessent’s comments indicate that the focus would be on incidents considered significant enough to have national-security implications rather than routine AI problems.
The Proposal Comes Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit
The AI discussions took place just days before U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Washington.
Xi’s U.S. visit is scheduled for September 23-25, with the two leaders expected to discuss trade, technology and other areas of US-China relations.
AI is expected to be one of the more sensitive issues on the agenda.
Reuters has reported that the broader summit is likely to address advanced technology, semiconductor restrictions, AI governance and other areas where Washington and Beijing have competing interests.
AI Safety and AI Competition Are Happening at the Same Time
The proposed AI dialogue highlights a complicated aspect of the US-China relationship.
The two countries are competing to develop increasingly advanced AI systems while also facing risks that may affect both sides.
For example, an AI-enabled cyberattack could potentially cross borders quickly. Autonomous systems could also create risks that are difficult to contain within one country.
That creates an incentive for communication even when governments disagree about technology policy.
Reuters reported earlier this month that U.S. and Chinese security experts had discussed safeguards for AI risks involving military systems, including human oversight and communication channels for AI-related incidents.
Trade and Critical Minerals Were Also Discussed
The New York meetings were not limited to artificial intelligence.
Bessent and He also discussed broader trade issues, including tariffs and critical minerals. Reuters reported that Washington and Beijing were working toward a framework involving possible tariff reductions on some non-strategic goods.
Critical minerals remain important because they are used in technologies ranging from electronics to advanced energy systems.
The United States has sought more reliable access to critical minerals, while China remains a major player in global supply chains for several of these materials.
The combination of AI, semiconductors and critical minerals shows how closely technology and trade policy have become connected.
No Major Agreement on Some Key Trade Issues
Despite progress on discussions, several major issues remained unresolved.
Reuters reported that the talks did not produce progress on areas such as increased Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products and aircraft. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also said that exports of high-end AI chips were not discussed during the meetings.
This distinction is important.
The AI safety proposal represents an effort to create a new communication channel, but it does not resolve the wider technological competition between the United States and China.
Why AI Transparency Matters
Advanced AI systems are becoming increasingly capable, but governments do not necessarily have visibility into how systems developed in another country are being trained, deployed or used.
Greater transparency could potentially help governments understand emerging risks.
The challenge is determining how much information each country would be willing to share.
AI technology has significant commercial and national-security value. Companies and governments may therefore be reluctant to disclose information about their most advanced systems, vulnerabilities or capabilities.
A successful notification system would need to balance AI safety, national security, commercial confidentiality and technological competition.
Concerns About AI-Driven Cyberattacks
One of the most important issues surrounding advanced AI is its potential use in cyber operations.
AI can help automate reconnaissance, analyze information and potentially accelerate aspects of cyberattacks. Reuters reported earlier in September that U.S. officials wanted discussions with China to include monitoring AI-directed cyberattacks.
A bilateral notification system could eventually provide a way for Washington and Beijing to communicate when serious AI-enabled cyber incidents occur.
However, such a mechanism would need clear definitions regarding what constitutes an AI-related incident and what information should be shared.
Autonomous AI Creates New Security Questions
The rapid development of AI agents and autonomous systems is also changing the security landscape.
Unlike traditional software, advanced AI agents can potentially make decisions, interact with digital environments and perform sequences of tasks with limited human intervention.
That creates concerns about situations in which an AI system behaves unexpectedly or is manipulated by an attacker.
Reuters reported that U.S. and Chinese experts have discussed the risks posed by autonomous AI systems and the need for human control in sensitive military and cyber operations.
These concerns could become increasingly important as AI systems become capable of performing more complex tasks.
Can Washington and Beijing Cooperate on AI Safety?
Whether the proposed AI dialogue develops into a formal mechanism remains uncertain.
The United States and China have significant differences over technology policy, semiconductor controls, AI governance and national security.
Reuters reported that Trump and Xi had previously discussed potential consultations on AI development in May, but the proposed forum was never formally established.
The latest proposal therefore represents another attempt to establish communication between the two countries on AI risks.
The outcome will depend on whether both governments can agree on the scope of information sharing and the responsibilities of each side.
What the Proposal Could Mean for Global AI Governance
A formal AI safety communication channel between the world’s two leading AI powers could have implications beyond the United States and China.
Other countries are also developing advanced AI systems and considering rules for their use.
If Washington and Beijing establish a mechanism for communicating about major AI incidents, other governments could potentially use similar approaches.
However, the proposal is still at an early stage, and it is not yet clear whether it will develop into a formal international framework.
The Bigger Challenge- Managing AI During Strategic Competition
The US-China discussions illustrate a broader problem facing the global AI industry.
Countries want to maintain technological leadership while also preventing advanced AI from creating uncontrolled risks.
That creates a delicate balance between AI innovation and AI safety.
The United States and China may continue competing over chips, computing infrastructure, AI models and commercial applications while simultaneously exploring limited cooperation on safety.
Such an approach would not eliminate their strategic disagreements, but it could provide a communication channel for risks that both countries have an interest in managing.
Conclusion
The proposal by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a US-China AI safety notification system marks a significant development in discussions over artificial intelligence governance.
The proposed mechanism would create a channel for Washington and Beijing to discuss major AI incidents with national-security implications. It comes as both countries compete over advanced AI, semiconductors, critical minerals and other strategic technologies.
The proposal is not yet a finalized agreement, and many questions remain about how such a system would operate and what information the two governments would share.
Still, the discussions demonstrate that AI competition and AI safety are increasingly interconnected. As artificial intelligence becomes more capable, communication between major AI powers could become an important part of managing risks associated with cyberattacks, autonomous systems and other emerging threats.
The upcoming Trump-Xi summit could provide another opportunity for the two governments to determine whether the proposed AI dialogue can move from an idea discussed in negotiations toward a more formal framework.
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