US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a high-profile summit in Washington without reaching a major agreement on artificial intelligence (AI), despite growing concerns worldwide about the technology’s rapid advancement. The three-day summit, marking the first visit by a Chinese president to the White House in over a decade, focused on a range of issues, including trade relations, the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, and the status of Taiwan.
While the summit resulted in the extension of the existing trade truce between the two countries for an additional two months, AI discussions did not culminate in any significant collaborative framework or agreement. President Xi emphasized the shared responsibility of the United States and China in developing and managing AI to ensure it remains under human control. He also advocated for increased cooperation in addressing AI’s potential risks.
However, no formal steps were announced to establish common safety standards or to slow the development of advanced AI systems. President Trump, who has consistently highlighted the importance of maintaining the United States’ technological edge over China, introduced the term “super intelligence” to describe advanced AI during the discussions, though specific details on these conversations were limited.
The summit provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss pressing international issues and to view significant US founding documents at the National Archives. Looking ahead, Trump and Xi are expected to meet again at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China and the G20 summit in the United States later this year.