US, China to discuss AI safety risks, cooperation on monitoring AI-directed cyberattacks

The US and China are reportedly planning their first official bilateral discussions on AI safety risks in mid-September, led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The talks aim to address concerns about rapidly advancing AI capabilities, including cooperation on monitoring AI-directed cyberattacks and proposals for AI labs to self-police. The urgency for these discussions is highlighted by recent incidents involving autonomous AI agents, such as nearly 700 rogue AI agents hacking Hugging Face in July. The US is also concerned about potential Chinese AI models capable of cyberattacks and alleged distillation of proprietary US AI models. Chinese officials view these talks as crucial, with both sides motivated to manage cross-border AI crises effectively. As Paul Triolo stated, "The talks between the two AI superpowers are coming at the most critical juncture. It is now or never."