US-China AI Cooperation Key to Global Safety, Yet Both See Each Other as Threat

Global AI safety efforts hinge on US-China cooperation, yet both nations view each other's strategies as the primary threat. The issue is set for discussion at next week's Trump-Xi meeting in Washington, though deep agreement appears unlikely. Both countries compete for AI dominance, with Trump resisting regulation over fears it would benefit China. US firms pursue advanced chips and data centers, while China promotes affordable open-source models. American AI leaders like Anthropic's Dario Amodei advocate slowing China's progress while acknowledging safety cooperation is necessary. China has launched rival AI governance initiatives, including the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, while the US leads the Pax Silica alliance. Both sides have accused each other of malicious practices, and experts suggest the summit may only produce symbolic acknowledgment of shared risks rather than substantive agreements.