US weighs AI 'red phone' hotline with China before Trump-Xi meeting

The United States is exploring a direct "red phone" hotline with China to manage emergencies involving artificial intelligence, including incidents posing national security risks, ahead of President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The proposal aims to prevent AI-related crises from escalating due to miscommunication. The plan, reported by Axios, involves a notification mechanism for serious AI incidents and is part of broader discussions between the two nations competing for AI leadership. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has discussed the mechanism with Chinese officials, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized balancing AI development with safeguards against potential harm. The hotline concept draws parallels to the Cold War-era channel between Washington and Moscow after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Exact trigger circumstances remain unclear, but potential scenarios include AI-enabled cyberattacks or threats to critical infrastructure, with AI expected to be a key topic at the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting in Washington.