AI arms race or not, the U.S. and China need to talk about the tech

Two world powers are in an arms race to develop the most advanced AI systems, and neither of them trusts each other—but each relies on the other’s compliance to proceed. This contradiction lies at the core of a dangerous standoff for our time. President Trump’s meetings with President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week are a crucial moment for the U.S.-China relationship. U.S. officials made clear their intentions to initiate the discussion of setting up a dedicated communication channel regarding AI matters This means they’re worried that the technology could become a source of conflict between the two nations. I’ve been working in the tech world for decades, and I’m confident that this situation is unprecedented. Washington and Beijing both see the importance of advanced AI technology for purposes of intelligence and as a potential means of cyber warfare. It has thus become extremely important to coordinate and cooperate, even while remaining rivals. The U.S. has relied significantly on