U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the United States' technological leadership positions it to engage in discussions with China regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI).
AI Safety Protocols Under Discussion
During his visit to Japan and South Korea en route to the Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing on May 14-15, 2026, Secretary Bessent addressed the global focus on AI governance.
- Bessent indicated that the two AI superpowers are expected to establish a formal protocol.
- This protocol aims to set best practices for AI development and deployment.
- A primary goal of these discussions is to prevent non-state actors from gaining access to advanced AI models.
US Advantage in AI Dialogue
Speaking to Joe Kernen on Thursday, on the sidelines of President Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bessent emphasized the U.S. position.
- "The reason we are able to have wholesome discussions with the Chinese on AI is because we are in the lead," Bessent stated.
- He added that such discussions would likely not occur if the U.S. were significantly behind China in the field.
Concerns Over Advanced AI Models
The backdrop for these international talks includes growing concerns over powerful AI capabilities. Specifically, the U.S.-based company Anthropic has drawn attention due to its Mythos AI model.
- The Mythos AI model is reported to possess significant cyberattack capabilities.
- Anthropic plans to initially release this model to select business partners.
