WASHINGTON — China’s President Xi Jinping called for artificial intelligence to remain "under human control" during a meeting at the White House on Thursday, amid ongoing competition between the United States and China for technological leadership. Xi's remarks highlight concerns in China regarding the ability of both nations to manage the rapidly evolving technology, according to a U.S. official.
Lawmakers and leaders in the AI industry urged President Trump to use his summit with Xi to establish a safety framework for AI, which researchers warn could soon exceed human understanding. However, Trump preemptively stated on social media that he did not intend to negotiate limits on AI development.
“A big day with President Xi of China,” Trump wrote. “Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also. Our guardrail is the DOJ!”
After welcoming Xi at the White House, Trump briefly mentioned AI, stating, “The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come.” Xi emphasized the importance of AI in discussions between the two nations.
“Both China and the United States are leading nations in artificial intelligence,” Xi said. “We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good — and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control, and serves the well-being of the people.”
The two leaders held a private meeting with aides in the Oval Office after participating in a military review and exchanging gifts. A state dinner was scheduled for later in the evening, attended by top banking and technology leaders, including AI executives.
Aalok Mehta, director of the Wadhwani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed skepticism about the outcomes of the summit regarding AI, given Trump's earlier statements.
“Given Trump’s statements going into the summit about not wanting guardrails, I have tepid expectations about tangible outcomes on AI,” Mehta said. “The most likely scenario seems to be the establishment of a hotline — though how useful that will be depends on who will be staffing it, and how much each government prioritizes it.”
Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with his Chinese counterpart to discuss AI development, stating that they agreed to establish a U.S.-China AI Dialogue.
Bessent mentioned the need for a notification mechanism between the two countries to share common goals and threats. While the Trump administration has shown division over AI regulation, Bessent has advocated for cautious, voluntary guardrails.
China has also expressed a willingness to communicate on AI issues despite existing distrust. OpenAI and Anthropic, two American AI companies, are recognized for developing advanced AI models, with concerns about the implications of recursive self-improvement in AI technology.
Leaders from these companies have called for cooperation between Beijing and Washington to prevent potential human catastrophes. Xi stated that both nations “stand to gain from cooperation, and will both lose in confrontation.”
He also mentioned the need for healthy competition and the importance of maintaining dialogue to avoid conflict. Xi's visit to Washington comes after Trump's state visit to Beijing in May, which was marked by a similar display of pageantry.
The recent summit has been interpreted as a demonstration of China's desire for respect on the global stage, with some polls indicating a growing American acceptance of engagement with China.
Michael Wilner is the Washington bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times. Ana Ceballos is a Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.