A US-China AI Hotline Won't Be Ready For a While
wired ·
The United States and China are working to establish an AI notification system similar to a Cold War-era hotline, aiming to manage national security risks as they compete for dominance in the artificial intelligence industry. This proposal was highlighted during preparations for President Donald Trump's upcoming state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. Although Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the initiative, officials indicate that finalizing the agreement will take several weeks due to unresolved details regarding incident benchmarks and China's noncommittal stance. The administration hopes to have a functional framework agreed upon by Trump before follow-up talks occur in Shenzhen two months from now. Complicating matters are debates over enforcement measures, ongoing trade truces, and the allocation of Nvidia chip exports to China. Additionally, delays may arise from the pending appointment of a new "AI czar" to lead interagency coordination, with several high-ranking officials considered for the role. Despite these hurdles, there is optimism that the hotline could be operational before the end of the year.
wired