September 28, 2026: The United States and China have agreed to establish a formal dialogue on advanced artificial intelligence, creating a new channel for discussing the potential risks and benefits of increasingly powerful AI systems.

The agreement followed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington and his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump. Both governments said the new mechanism will focus on AI-related risks and benefits, with the next round of discussions expected by November 2026.

New Channel for AI Incidents

One of the key elements of the agreement is the creation of a bilateral communication channel for AI-related incidents.

The mechanism is intended to provide a way for the two countries to communicate when significant incidents involving advanced AI systems occur. The governments have not publicly provided detailed rules on what types of incidents would trigger the channel or how information would be exchanged.

Focus on Advanced AI

The White House described the new forum as the U.S.-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue, while Chinese government statements referred to it as the China-U.S. AI Dialogue.

The discussions are expected to address the potential benefits and risks associated with increasingly capable AI technologies. Chinese officials have also emphasized the importance of keeping AI development under human control.

Competition Continues

The agreement does not represent a merger of the two countries’ AI programmes or an end to their technological competition.

U.S. officials have indicated that Washington intends to continue developing its AI capabilities, while the new dialogue provides a separate channel for discussing safety and incidents. The two countries therefore remain competitors in advanced technology while establishing a mechanism for communication on AI-related risks.

First Discussions Expected by November

The next exchange is scheduled to take place by November 2026. The timing coincides with planned high-level meetings in China, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

The establishment of the dialogue comes as AI systems become increasingly capable of operating autonomously, interacting with digital tools and performing complex tasks. Governments and technology companies worldwide are consequently paying greater attention to AI safety, cybersecurity and accountability.

The new U.S.-China mechanism could provide a dedicated avenue for the two largest technology powers to communicate about incidents involving advanced AI, although its effectiveness will depend on how the mechanism is implemented and what information the two sides ultimately agree to share.