Trump Heads to Beijing for First-Ever AI Talks with Xi as U.S.-China Tech Rift Deepens
U.S. President Donald Trump will make artificial intelligence the centerpiece of his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, marking the first time AI takes center stage in a Trump-Xi summit. But two U.S. officials familiar with the planning say major agreements are unlikely given deepening distrust.
The meeting comes as the U.S.-China AI rivalry heats up, with some analysts describing it as a Cold War-style race for technological dominance. The stakes rose further after Anthropic unveiled its powerful Mythos model.
China was left out of early access to a Mythos preview, fueling concerns in Beijing that the technology could be used to target Chinese software and financial systems.
Still, the inclusion of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and White House tech advisor Michael Kratsios in Trump’s delegation signals AI and chip policy will be on the table.
Their presence raises the possibility of discussions around Nvidia’s H200 chips and broader export controls.
While both sides acknowledge AI’s strategic weight, officials say the trust gap between Washington and Beijing makes substantive commitments a long shot for now.
