Trump rejects idea of joint US-China AI venture

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is ruling out any joint venture with China on artificial intelligence, comparing such cooperation to handing over American secrets to its main economic rival. Speaking at an event in Washington, he also reiterated his opposition to restrictions on AI development, despite growing public unease over the technology.

The remarks followed last week's visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House, after which Beijing and Washington announced a new AI dialogue, with further talks set for November. The two countries also set up a new communications channel meant to prevent misunderstandings during AI-related incidents.

The event marked the launch of America.gov, a new AI-powered platform designed to streamline government services. Trump argued the US is "leading by a lot" in AI and has no interest in teaming up with rivals, saying there is effectively no third-place competitor — only the US and China.

While AI was discussed during his meeting with Xi, Trump said he remains opposed to joint development, warning that cooperation would let China "immediately gain access" to knowledge it currently lacks. Ahead of the Xi meeting, China's foreign ministry had cautioned that "narratives of threat" and confrontation undermine AI governance efforts.

At home, Trump faces mounting public concern over AI's potential dangers and calls for stronger safeguards. A Politico poll published in late September found two-thirds of Americans believe there is at least a "moderate" risk AI could destroy humanity, while 44% of Trump supporters surveyed said they would favour pausing AI development. Trump has repeatedly dismissed such safety concerns as a "hoax."