US President Donald Trump said artificial intelligence will be a major topic of discussion during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, but indicated that he does not want significant changes to the current approach toward the technology.
Trump referred to artificial intelligence as “Super Intelligence” in a social media post ahead of the meeting. He said the issue would feature prominently in his talks with Xi and suggested that China holds a similar position on keeping the current approach in place.
Trump also pointed to the US Department of Justice as the country’s safeguard for dealing with AI-related concerns. He has previously said that the United States already has mechanisms to regulate or take action against AI companies when necessary.
The comments come as AI has become an increasingly important issue in US-China relations. Both countries are competing to advance their AI capabilities while facing questions over the potential misuse and risks associated with increasingly powerful systems.
Xi’s visit to Washington comes amid growing public discussion about AI safety. Earlier this month, concerns were raised after an Anthropic researcher warned about the potential dangers of highly capable AI systems.
Preparatory talks between US and Chinese officials have also included discussions around AI and possible mechanisms for addressing technology-related risks. However, analysts cited by Reuters have suggested that the strategic competition between the two countries could limit the scope of any major agreement.
AI is expected to be one of several issues discussed during the Trump-Xi meeting, alongside broader US-China relations and trade.