Trump downplays AI safety concerns as Xi pledges open-source AI for BRICS
During remarks on recent appeals from AI researchers to curb progress, Donald Trump said the United States is already ahead of China in artificial intelligence and sees no need for alarm. Hours earlier, Xi Jinping, speaking at a BRICS summit, reaffirmed China's opposition to closed American models and unveiled plans for an open-source AI community for the bloc, providing tools like DeepSeek and Qwen along with training and seminars. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun echoed the stance, calling AI a decisive technology for humanity and warning that alarmism harms global governance.
Donald Trump responded to a joint appeal by scientists and executives from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google to temper AI development, stating that the United States is leading China in the field and that he prefers the status quo. In a separate address at the BRICS summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing's long-standing opposition to proprietary American AI models and announced the creation of an open-source AI community for the BRICS nations, offering models such as DeepSeek and Qwen together with specialized training and seminars.
The initiative was reiterated by foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who described AI as crucial for global well-being and urged collaborative, inclusive development while condemning alarmist competition. Trump’s comments shift the debate toward geopolitical rivalry, whereas Beijing’s proposal aims to shape international AI standards. The contrasting approaches highlight a widening contest over technological leadership between the United States and China.
How this story developed
- Sep 11 Modi and Putin share a private car ride in Delhi ahead of BRICS summit
- Sep 11 The two leaders shared a car ride to the INNOPROM India exhibition after their bilateral talks.
- Sep 11 BRICS expanded to eleven member countries.
- Sep 12 The 18th BRICS summit opened in New Delhi with India presiding and leaders including Xi Jinping arriving for the meeting.
- Sep 12 Modi called for immediate UN Security Council reform and urged the Global South to become a rule‑shaper at the summit's opening.
- Sep 12 The two leaders reaffirmed the need for mutual respect, sensitivity and shared interests while discussing border stability and economic cooperation. They highlighted progress in people-to-people contacts and called for expanded cultural, business and mobility links. Both sides also pledged to address trade imbalances, supply-chain challenges and to seek a fair, mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue.
- Sep 12 Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS nations at the New Delhi summit to support peace initiatives in the Middle East, saying the war harms the international community.
- Sep 12 The two leaders met on the margins of the BRICS Summit. Vietnam is a partner country in the BRICS grouping.
- Sep 12 Leaders adopted the Delhi Declaration and Modi proposed a continuity mechanism to implement summit outcomes.
- Sep 12 The leaders met bilaterally during the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
- Sep 13 Leaders adopted a 140‑point New Delhi Declaration covering security, trade, climate and technology issues.
- Sep 13 Day 2 of the summit focused on PM Modi’s four‑pillar BRICS agenda, early‑warning and disaster systems, AI, digital agriculture, supply chains and startups.
- Sep 13 President Xi outlined proposals for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a China‑hosted service‑trade forum.
- Sep 13 Modi paused his closing‑session speech to query Xi’s translator after the Chinese president showed discomfort and skipped the gala dinner.
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