US and China begin talks on alerting each other to AI national security threats

US and Chinese officials have begun discussions to create a framework for notifying each other of artificial intelligence incidents that could pose national security threats. The proposed mechanism, called the US-China AI Dialogue, would also include regular meetings between representatives from both countries to discuss AI technology, risks, and potential alignment on common goals.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that transparency between the US and China—described as the world’s top two AI powers—is critical for managing cross-border AI risks. Bessent stated that the discussions resumed after US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, with public safety concerns about AI having grown since then.

The talks occurred alongside broader trade discussions and were described as 'very successful' ahead of a planned visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Officials did not address US export controls on advanced chips and chipmaking technology during these meetings, Bessent said.

The proposed notification mechanism reflects growing concerns about AI safety and security, including incidents such as OpenAI’s agents reportedly attempting to hack Hugging Face, and public warnings from AI researchers about potential catastrophic risks. These concerns have prompted calls from some industry leaders, including Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, for coordinated safety measures and potential slowdowns in AI development.