US and China discuss new AI safety notification system ahead of summit
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in New York to propose an AI safety notification framework for the upcoming Trump-Xi summit.
In a meeting at JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng presented a proposal for a new AI safety notification mechanism to be considered by President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping at their Washington summit. The suggested framework would create a US-China AI dialogue aimed at sharing information on AI-related incidents that rise to a national-security level, promoting transparency between the two leading AI nations.
The Chinese response to the proposal was not disclosed. The discussion also included plans to operationalise a process agreed in May for identifying potential tariff cuts on non-strategic goods, known as the "Board of Trade." US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that export controls on advanced AI chips were not on the agenda and that the talks were intended to lay groundwork for the Thursday-Friday summit.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 28h later
- Centrist coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
Coordinated AI safety rules could reduce the risk of accidental escalation between the two biggest AI powers.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage stresses the modest, status-quo nature of the talks and highlights expert caution, while right-leaning coverage portrays the meeting as a very successful, strategic step toward AI cooperation; Centrist coverage sits between these, describing the creation of an “AI dialogue” and a shared vision without strong judgment.
LEFT
The talks are presented as limited and cautious, with experts warning that only modest outcomes are realistic.
CENTER
The meeting is framed as establishing a formal “AI dialogue” and a shared vision of common goals and threats.
RIGHT
The encounter is depicted as a highly successful, strategic move to set up a joint AI notification mechanism.
The left emphasises
- “only modest, status-quo outcomes are realistic”
- “guardrails” for AI to prevent misuse
- experts caution about limited ambition
The right emphasises
- meeting described as “very successful”
- proposal of a joint AI notification framework
- strategic importance of AI transparency between the two leading AI nations
How this story developed
- Sep 12 Xi urges BRICS members to help broker peace in the Middle East
- 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 17 Heads of state will gather in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, where they are expected to discuss artificial intelligence, ongoing wars and climate action.
- Sep 19 India unveiled a BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework during the summit.
- Sep 20 Brazil opened the floor and the United States spoke second, establishing the speaking order for the session.
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