US, China resist AI safety curbs despite industry warnings

The world's two largest economies are poised to take a cautious approach to regulating artificial intelligence despite mounting warnings from industry experts about potential catastrophic risks. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are anticipated to announce only modest collaborative efforts on AI safety protocols when they meet, according to sources briefed on summit preparations.

Prominent AI researchers and technology leaders have increasingly called for coordinated international safeguards and development slowdowns to ensure that advanced AI systems remain controllable and aligned with human values. These warnings have intensified as AI capabilities accelerate, with some experts cautioning that unchecked development could pose existential risks.

However, both Washington and Beijing appear reluctant to embrace substantive restrictions that could slow their respective technological advancement. Competition between the two nations over AI supremacy has intensified, with each viewing dominance in the field as strategically vital to future economic and military capabilities.

Experts say the limited cooperation being considered would likely focus on narrow areas such as information sharing about specific safety incidents or basic research collaboration, rather than substantive curbs on development velocity. The divergence between industry warnings and government action underscores the broader challenge of coordinating AI governance amid geopolitical tensions.