Trump pushes no AI guardrails; Xi calls for global governance pact
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday for bilateral talks focused on artificial intelligence and other issues, though neither leader disclosed details of their discussion afterward.
The two leaders had taken divergent public stances on AI governance heading into the meeting. After AI companies began expressing worry that AI could destroy humanity, Trump said there should be no guardrails on AI except for the Justice Department. Xi, in a Sept. 12 speech in India, called for countries to “encourage open source, openness, collaboration and sharing” and proposed a global AI governance pact, according to CNN. Xi did not elaborate on how the pact would work.
Trump welcomed Xi on his second day in the United States with a Marine Corps Band performance, a flyover and a review of troops dressed in colonial uniforms. Watching the review were Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.
In his opening remarks, Trump said the two countries should work together and noted that during World War II, the United States and China fought on the same side.
Xi said he and Trump share mutual respect. He invited 100,000 American students to visit China over the next five years and announced that two pandas will soon be loaned to the Atlanta Zoo.
Trump joked that the Chinese press corps are the friendliest, “after a morning battle with some members of the American White House press corps.” All Chinese media are controlled by the government.
After the meeting, Xi left the White House at about 1:30 p.m. EDT. “Great meeting, thank you,” Trump said in response to reporters’ questions before walking back inside. The Chinese delegation climbed into cars and left.