U.S. can hold AI talks with China because ‘we are in the lead,’ Bessent tells CNBC as nations plan safety protocol

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent waits for the first meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's anti-fraud task force convened by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 27, 2026. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters The U.S. can talk to China about AI because "we are in the lead," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC, as the countries unveiled a protocol on best practices for the rapidly improving technology. "The two AI superpowers are gonna start talking. We're gonna set up a protocol in terms of how do we go forward with best practices for AI to make sure non-state actors don't get a hold of these models," Bessent told Joe Kernen on Thursday, on the sidelines of President Donald Trump 's two-day meeting in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping . "The reason we are able to have wholesome discussions with the Chinese on AI is because we are in the lead," he added. "I do not think we would be having the same discussions if they were this far ahead of us," he said. U.S.-based Anthropic has alarmed many in Washington and other countries with the Mythos AI model , which is supposed to have powerful cyberattack capabilities . The company said it would initially release it to select business partners. BEIJING, CHINA - MAY 14: China's President Xi Jinping (R) and US President Donald Trump pose for a photo at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026. …