Trump rules out joint US-China venture to develop AI

September 29, 2026

President Donald Trump rejected any possibility of a joint artificial intelligence venture with China, stating it would reveal American technological secrets to a key economic competitor. Speaking at the launch of America. gov, an AI-powered government services portal, Trump emphasized that the US leads significantly in AI development and wants to maintain that advantage.

Who is affected

The United States and China as competing nations in AI development
US government agencies
Technology companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta
American citizens concerned about AI safety risks
Trump supporters (44% prefer pausing AI development)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Beijing government
Users of the new America.gov portal

What action is being taken

Trump is launching America.gov, an AI-powered website for streamlining government services
The US and China have established a new communications channel to prevent AI-related misunderstandings
Trump is holding meetings with technology company representatives and government agency officials
Technology leaders are signing a "morally binding" document regarding AI protection
Trump is signing an executive order to rename AI as "Super Intelligence" in government documents

Why it matters

This matters because it defines the competitive framework between the world's two largest economies in developing transformative AI technology. Trump's refusal to collaborate with China on AI development prioritizes maintaining American technological superiority over international cooperation, which could shape global AI governance and escalate tech rivalry. The president's dismissal of widespread public safety concerns while accelerating AI development without regulatory constraints creates potential risks that a significant majority of Americans worry could threaten humanity. Additionally, the establishment of communication channels between the US and China acknowledges the need to prevent dangerous misunderstandings even without cooperation.

What's next

Further AI dialogue talks between Beijing and Washington are scheduled for November
A "Super Intelligence Czar" will likely be named in the coming days
The executive order formally changing AI's name to "Super Intelligence" in government documents will be implemented

Read full article from source: BBC