Artificial Intelligence Diplomacy Process Ahead of US and China Leaders' Summit
Ahead of official talks in Washington, while technological competition between the two countries continues, informal discussions are laying the groundwork for shared concerns.
Prior to the critical meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington, official tensions and an environment of distrust in the field of artificial intelligence persist. Despite the ongoing tech rivalry between the two nations, experts note that informal backchannel diplomacy plays an important role in addressing shared risks.
Official Contacts and Competitive Environment
The United States and China are caught in a deep cycle of competition and mistrust regarding artificial intelligence technologies. While the Trump administration accuses Chinese AI companies of intellectual property theft, Beijing reacts to Washington's chip export restrictions.
The Role of Informal Talks
Despite frictions at the official level, informal Track Two diplomacy led by think tanks and universities continues intensively. These private meetings bring together experts from both countries to address critical issues ranging from nuclear disarmament to climate change.
Distrust and Shared Risks
Sarah Beran, the new president of the National Committee, states that due to a lack of trust and fears of bottlenecks, artificial intelligence is an extremely sensitive and difficult topic. Nevertheless, past similar informal dialogues have provided an important foundation on issues such as the re-establishment of military communication.
Nuclear Decisions and Human Control
Retired Air Force General Jack Shanahan stated that such informal discussions lay the groundwork for an agreement that nuclear weapon decisions must be controlled by humans rather than artificial intelligence.
Shared Sensitivities and Red Lines
Recent meetings held in Shanghai and Beijing revealed that both sides experience similar vulnerabilities regarding artificial intelligence. While the US focuses on cyber vulnerabilities and loss of control, China prioritizes issues of regime stability and hardware independence.