The tough AI questions looming over the Trump-Xi summit

Artificial intelligence is expected to be a top agenda item when U.S. President Donald Trump meets China’s Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday, Sep 21, with both nations treating AI as the centerpiece of their economic rivalry. Trump said on Sep 13, “whoever wins AI, wins,” but the core issue for the summit is whether the two sides can reduce distrust while still competing. The article highlights flashpoints including alleged chip smuggling and remote access, where the U.S. has restricted advanced AI chip exports since 2022 and prosecutors have pursued cases tied to Nvidia hardware. It also covers “distillation” accusations involving Chinese firms copying capabilities of leading U.S. models, and broader “catastrophic risks” related to emerging AI agents.