US Open to AI Risk Talks With China Ahead of Xi Visit

The United States is open to discussing shared risks with China in upcoming economic talks, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, signaling a potential shift in the bilateral relationship on artificial intelligence. Bessent stated that Washington will raise the issue of avoiding AI bifurcation, where the two countries develop separate, incompatible systems, during meetings with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York this weekend. The talks are scheduled to cover AI, trade, and rare earth minerals. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet He Lifeng for several hours, with discussions potentially extending into Monday. The meetings precede a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on September 24. Bessent emphasized that the United States remains the leader in AI and intends to win the technology race, while also being open to dialogue on avoiding shared risks. The discussions come amid a broader debate in the technology sector about the pace of AI development.