US and China race for AI dominance as tech leaders meet

During a state visit to the United States, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump are scheduled to hold a dinner on September 24, 2026, with tech leaders including Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Sam Altman, amid ongoing debates about AI regulation. The dinner occurs as some AI executives call for slowing development, while Trump opposes regulation, stating that winning the AI race means global dominance. Experts describe the situation as a technological competition rather than a war, with both nations pursuing different strategies: American firms focus on commercial profitability, while Chinese companies prioritize widespread diffusion through open models. Taiwan is central to the competition as the world's leading semiconductor producer, essential for AI infrastructure. Both nations depend on Taiwan's production capabilities, creating geopolitical tensions, as the US cannot afford to lose access to this strategic sector while China claims the territory.