US and China plan mid-September talks on artificial intelligence safety

BEIJING — The U.S. and China are set to convene mid-September discussions focused on potential risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence systems, according to people familiar with the planned dialogue.

The talks reflect growing international concern about safety challenges presented by frontier AI technologies that are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Both nations have signaled willingness to engage on the issue despite broader geopolitical tensions.

Artificial intelligence development has become increasingly central to competition between Washington and Beijing, with both countries investing heavily in the technology's advancement. The planned safety dialogue represents an attempt to identify common ground on managing risks even as the two nations pursue competing AI capabilities.

Such conversations are rare between the superpowers and could help establish baseline understandings on AI governance. International coordination on emerging technologies has proven challenging, particularly given divergent regulatory approaches and national security considerations.

The timing of the discussions comes as AI systems demonstrate increasingly sophisticated capabilities, prompting calls from researchers, policymakers and industry experts for greater attention to safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies.