Treasury chief open to AI "shared risks" talks with Beijing via Axios

The upcoming leaders' summit between the US and China has drawn attention to the possibility of cooperation on AI regulation. The US Treasury secretary told Axios he was open to discussing "shared risks" on AI with Beijing at talks this weekend ahead of the summit, signaling a potential opening. However, analysts and commentators remain skeptical that any broad-ranging détente or agreement on AI regulation will materialize.

The Economist acknowledged that bitter rivals have come together to curb threats to humanity in the past, but noted that the superpowers and their AI labs harbor deep mistrust of one another. Writing in Foreign Affairs, a leading China analyst was similarly downbeat, stating that in the past the United States and China achieved breakthroughs when conditions were just right and leaders with great diplomatic acuity were in charge, but that the circumstances today are less favorable.

The stakes hinge on whether the two countries can overcome their deep mistrust and find common ground on AI risks, a task that appears unlikely given the current climate. For businesses and policymakers watching US-China relations, the summit may not yield the hoped-for breakthrough on AI regulation or broader détente.