Trump to meet China’s Xi as Congress considers sweeping AI restrictions

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday as artificial intelligence takes centre stage in US-China relations and Washington debates new restrictions on advanced AI.

Xi left Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day US state visit and is expected to be met by Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the US and China to establish formal communication over AI risks.

“Governments with the greatest AI capabilities have the greatest responsibilities to humanity, to establish channels for dialogue, transparency, trust and cooperation,” Guterres said.

Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar are expected to unveil legislation that would ban artificial superintelligence and pause advanced AI development until new safeguards are introduced, according to the Associated Press.

“It doesn’t take a genius to say, ‘slow it down,’” Sanders told AP.

The proposal would also create a federal Department of Artificial Intelligence to oversee advanced systems.

Tech leaders including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are also reportedly expected to attend a White House state dinner for Xi on Thursday.