The United States and China will begin talks on artificial intelligence safety, including the establishment of guardrails and export controls [1].
These discussions represent a critical attempt to manage the risks of rapid AI development between the world's two largest economies. By coordinating safety standards, the nations aim to prevent the proliferation of dangerous capabilities while maintaining their respective technological edges.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the talks will focus on creating a protocol to keep powerful AI models out of the hands of non-state actors [1]. The agenda also includes the development of safety standards, and the implementation of export controls [1].
Bessent said the U.S. is positioned to lead these negotiations. "We are in the lead," Bessent said [2].
According to Bessent, the U.S. wants to set these guardrails specifically to ensure that high-level AI capabilities do not fall into the hands of unauthorized actors [2]. The announcement came on Thursday, May 14, 2026 [1].
Despite the commitment to discuss safety, previous reports suggested a tension between the two governments. A report from May 13 noted that while both countries expected to discuss AI risks, neither was willing to be the first to slow down its own progress [3].
Bessent said the United States and China will discuss guardrails on artificial intelligence, including establishing a protocol for keeping powerful AI models out of the hands of non-state actors [1].
“We are in the lead.”
The initiation of these talks suggests a shift toward 'managed competition' in the AI sector. While the U.S. maintains that its current technological lead allows it to dictate terms, the focus on non-state actors indicates a shared fear that uncontrolled AI proliferation poses a mutual security threat that outweighs bilateral competition.
