The United States has put forward a proposal for a new notification mechanism regarding artificial intelligence incidents that could pose national security risks, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Sunday. The announcement came during weekend discussions in New York with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, serving as a precursor to anticipated meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House later in the week.
“We want a shared vision of common goals and common threats,” Bessent told reporters. He emphasized the importance of increasing transparency between the world’s two leading AI nations, noting that moving away from opacity is critical for managing cross-border technological developments.
The proposal aligns with a broader effort to stabilize relations ahead of the presidential summit. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the groundwork has been laid for productive talks between Trump and Xi. During their meeting, the two officials confirmed that both sides have agreed to operationalize a new “Board of Trade,” a concept initially discussed during the leaders’ encounter in Beijing in May.
“Today those notions have become reality,” Greer said. While details remain under negotiation, Greer indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding which non-sensitive items might qualify for reduced tariffs. Potential categories include consumer goods, agricultural products, energy resources, and medical devices.
Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported that Bessent and Vice Premier He discussed issues related to artificial intelligence, though specific details were not disclosed. The outlets described the broader economic and trade discussions as “candid, in-depth and constructive.”
President Trump has previously resisted pressure to slow the pace of AI development, arguing that such measures would primarily benefit China by allowing it to close the technological gap with U.S. companies. Despite this stance, the introduction of a risk notification system marks a significant diplomatic step.
George Chen, a partner and chair of the digital practice at The Asia Group consultancy, highlighted the diplomatic significance of the dialogue continuing. “The initial outcome — an AI risk notification mechanism — sets a precedent that other countries may follow,” Chen said in a written statement.
Reporting was contributed by Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok.
Precedent-setting indeed. If other nations adopt similar frameworks, global AI governance could finally gain some traction amid geopolitical tensions.
Does this mean China is now worried about US AI dominance, or is this purely about managing mutual risks? Skeptical but open.
Interesting that trade talks are moving in parallel. Hopefully, these constructive dialogues don’t stall before the presidential summit.
Finally, some practical cooperation between the US and China on AI safety. Transparency is key to preventing accidental escalation.
A notification system is a start, but without verification mechanisms, this feels like diplomatic theater rather than genuine security.