The United States and China are in discussions to establish “guardrails” for the use of artificial intelligence, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Bessent, speaking to CNBC, said the two countries plan to set up a “protocol” on the path forward for AI. A central focus of the agreement would be ensuring that “non-state actors don’t get a hold of these models,” according to the Treasury secretary.
The talks come amid growing calls for regulation of AI technology, with Washington and Beijing emerging as the two primary parties in these early-stage discussions.
The development suggests that despite broader geopolitical tensions between the US and China, the two governments may be finding common ground on managing potential risks posed by advanced AI systems. A formal protocol, if established, could represent a significant step toward coordinated international oversight of the technology — particularly in preventing access by actors outside government control.
Source: Tech-Economic Times