Artificial intelligence is set to be a key discussion point when US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet this week.
The two countries are in a head-to-head competition over AI development, advanced chips and the infrastructure needed to build these fast-growing systems, while also looking for ways to manage the technology's potential risks.
As Reuters reports, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously proposed an AI safety notification mechanism during talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The proposal would give Washington and Beijing a way to communicate should a serious AI incident raise national security concerns.
The mechanism would not restrict AI development. Instead, it would create a channel for the two countries to share information about significant incidents.
US Proposes AI Incident Notification Mechanism
Bessent said the proposed system would form part of a wider, mutually beneficial AI dialogue focused on national security.
The US and China have previously discussed creating a forum for AI consultations, including during Trump's meeting with Xi in Beijing in May, but that forum was never formally created.
The latest proposal would provide a more specific structure to follow when it comes to communicating about serious incidents. This comes as AI is increasingly connected to concerns about national security and the maintenance of critical infrastructure.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also mentioned that advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment were not part of the discussions surrounding the proposed mechanism.
A Potential "Red Phone" for AI
The proposal has also been described as a potential AI "red phone".
Axios reports that US and Chinese officials are considering an emergency communication channel for serious AI-related incidents.
The idea has drawn comparison to the direct communication channel that was established between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War. This was designed to allow the two countries to communicate quickly and efficiently during a crisis.
It’s not yet clear what type of incident would trigger the proposed AI channel.
One potential scenario could involve an AI system being used in a major cyberattack against critical infrastructure. An incident could also originate inside a private technology company, creating another challenge for governments trying to identify and respond to emerging threats.
US and China Continue to Compete on AI
The proposed safety mechanism comes against a wider backdrop of competition between the US and China.
The countries are still divided when it comes to advanced semiconductor technology, technology transfers and AI regulation. It’s been reported that both countries view AI more and more as an important part of their economic and military capabilities.
The US may have restricted China's access to some advanced semiconductor technologies but Chinese companies continue to develop their own AI models within the country.
National security is another area of concern. AI could be used in cyberattacks or military systems, while any AI-related incident could potentially be mistaken for an attack by another country.
These risks have added to calls for more streamlined and clear communication between Washington and Beijing.
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Trump Wants to Maintain US AI Leadership
The proposed mechanism comes amidst Trump continuing to push for US leadership in AI.
Trump has argued that the US should continue developing the technology instead of introducing measures to slow its progress in relation to China.
Axios reports that Trump has rejected calls to slow AI development and has made maintaining the US’ lead over China a central part of his approach.
The proposed notification system would therefore address specific risks without the need to place broader limits on AI development.
China Calls for AI Cooperation
Beijing has also called for greater cooperation with the US on AI.
China's state-run People's Daily recently called for AI to become a new area of cooperation between the two countries and encouraged the use of an existing intergovernmental AI dialogue mechanism.
China has also introduced rules relating to AI-generated content and how AI is used in various industries.
At the same time, Beijing has pushed back against US restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology and concerns that Chinese AI development should be limited.
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AI Safety Intertwines With AI Competition
The Trump-Xi meeting comes as both countries aim to address the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI while balancing the need to develop the technology even further.
The proposed notification mechanism opens channels of communication between Washington and Beijing, especially when it comes to serious incidents, without requiring either country to sacrifice its wider AI development.
For now, the proposed mechanism is still written in pencil, and details about how it would operate have not been finalised.
Even as competition between China and the US heats up, these discussions at least open a limited channel for cooperation on AI safety.
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