China and US need shared AI risk vocabulary, think tank urges
- Beijing and Washington must establish a shared vocabulary for artificial intelligence risks before attempting to resolve their broader technology rivalry, according to a leading Chinese think tank.
- Under the bilateral agreement reached during the summit, both nations will exchange views on the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence.
- The diplomatic push coincides with growing international concern over military applications of algorithms, which defense experts discussed at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in September 2026.
Beijing and Washington must establish a shared vocabulary for artificial intelligence risks before attempting to resolve their broader technology rivalry, according to a leading Chinese think tank. The proposal from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), an organization affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, follows an agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump to formalize a bilateral AI dialogue mechanism during their summit in Washington.
Bilateral AI Dialogue Framework and November Talks
Under the bilateral agreement reached during the summit, both nations will exchange views on the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. The framework also establishes a dedicated communication channel for handling AI-related incidents, with the next round of talks scheduled for November. Liu Chong, director of CICIR’s Centre for Sci-Tech and Strategic Studies, stated that the diplomatic engagement should begin by building a shared understanding of emerging AI risks and gradually establishing trust between the two governments.
Military Decision Timelines and Red Lines
The diplomatic push coincides with growing international concern over military applications of algorithms, which defense experts discussed at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in September 2026. Around 2,000 delegates from roughly 100 countries convened at the security conference to address how automated systems compress military decision-making timelines from hours or days down to minutes. Melanie Sisson of the Brookings Institution and Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University advocated for strict guardrails, including human oversight requirements and explicit red lines that prohibit artificial intelligence from autonomously targeting nuclear weapons systems or critical infrastructure.
Strategic Competition and Disinformation Risks
Chinese State Security Minister Chen Yixin warned in remarks dated September 14, 2026, that AI is transforming the nature of military competition and poses direct threats to political stability. Chen framed the technological race as a critical point in the broader strategic contest between major powers. The new bilateral dialogue builds upon previous diplomatic efforts, including a 2024 agreement between the United States and China that affirmed the necessity of human oversight in nuclear command and control decisions.