Marco Rubio says AI safety needs "the equivalent of a hotline that we had during the Cold War"

As President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington for a state visit on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two governments were early in exploring how communication can keep AI dangers from escalating. Rubio indicated the focus was on preventing incidents that could cause broad economic and social damage or draw countries into conflict. The summit, the leaders’ second meeting this year, is expected to produce few major breakthroughs; possible outcomes reportedly include extending a pause in tariffs due to end in November, studying AI threats, and cooperation on trade, drug trafficking, military contacts, and efforts to win the release of people held in China, including Americans. Deep disputes over Taiwan, technology export limits and AI remain, and the visit is meant to show stable ties between the world’s largest economies despite their rivalry.