Title: A US-China AI Hotline Won't Be Ready For a While
URL Source: https://www.wired.com/story/a-us-china-ai-hotline-wont-be-ready-for-a-while/
Published Time: 2026-09-23T17:00:00.000-04:00
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[Hugo Lowell](https://www.wired.com/author/hugo-lowell/)
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Sep 23, 2026 5:00 PM
A US-China AI Hotline Won't Be Ready For a While
As the US and China race to become the dominant power in the AI industry, the countries also appear to be figuring out ways to communicate on national security issues.

Photo-illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty Images
Comments Save this story
Comments Save this story
As US president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping prepare to meet in Washington for a state dinner at the White House on Thursday, [AI has become a top priority](https://www.wired.com/story/washington-wont-be-regulating-ai-anytime-soon/). Tech executives from [OpenAI](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-ai-with-your-privacy-intact/) and [Nvidia](https://www.wired.com/story/nvidias-hugging-face-acquisition-is-a-dollar129-billion-bet-on-open-source-ai/) have confirmed their attendance at the dinner, as a number of key agenda items are on the table.
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[](https://www.wired.com/author/hugo-lowell/)
[Hugo Lowell](https://www.wired.com/author/hugo-lowell/) is a senior political correspondent at WIRED, where he anchors the weekly newsletter [_Inner Loop_](https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/inner-loop) from Washington, DC. Previously, he was a White House correspondent for The Guardian and is the 2022 recipient of the National Press Club award for political reporting. He is originally from New York. … [Read More](https://www.wired.com/author/hugo-lowell)
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Washington and Beijing have grown ever more linked in the AI boom, making hardware exports and technological restrictions hefty bargaining chips in negotiations.
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[China Isn’t Buying Silicon Valley’s Call for an AI Slowdown](https://www.wired.com/story/china-isnt-buying-silicon-valley-call-for-ai-slowdown/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc-bkt-a_2676724c-f8bc-47ba-9d89-28f95dea6164_closr_fallback_text2vec1)
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[Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon](https://www.wired.com/story/washington-wont-be-regulating-ai-anytime-soon/#intcid=_wired-article-bottom-recirc-bkt-a_2676724c-f8bc-47ba-9d89-28f95dea6164_closr_fallback_text2vec1)
Even with mounting concerns about AI models going rogue, legislation appears unlikely, and the White House is outright opposed to oversight.
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The unexpected interruption came hours before the president wrote a congratulatory post on Truth Social about the company’s most recent earnings report.
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Better late than never, right? At least they are finally admitting the need for some form of direct communication channel.
Honestly, given current tensions, I’m skeptical any hotline would be reliably answered during a real crisis anyway.