OpenAI has backed the idea of creating a global artificial intelligence governance framework led by the United States and involving China, ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Bloomberg reported.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Wednesday, OpenAI Vice President of Global Affairs Chris Lehane said the US could use its lead in AI development to help build an international structure focused on safer and more resilient AI systems.
“AI, on some level, transcends a lot of the prevailing or traditional trade type of issues,” Lehane said during the briefing.
Lehane suggested that such a framework could function similarly to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which sets global nuclear safety standards and includes China as a member. He said one possible approach would be linking the US Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation with AI safety institutes being established globally.
Lehane also said OpenAI has discussed the idea of connecting international AI safety institutes with officials in Washington, although it remains unclear whether the Trump administration would support a global AI governance structure involving China.
The comments came hours before Trump’s first state visit to China in nine years. AI is expected to be among the subjects discussed during the summit, alongside trade issues, rare earth supply chains, agricultural purchases, and the Iran conflict.
Lehane added that OpenAI has urged the US government to allow classified testing of advanced AI systems by government researchers before deployment. At the same time, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing an executive order focused on AI cybersecurity that would prioritise voluntary reviews instead of mandatory checks.
The debate around AI safety has intensified following concerns raised by Anthropic over cyber risks linked to its Mythos AI model. US officials have also indicated they may explore a dedicated communication channel with China for discussions related to AI.
Another issue likely to feature in US-China discussions is complaints from American AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, that Chinese developers are allegedly using outputs from advanced US AI models to build competing systems more cheaply and with fewer safeguards.
Follow Storyboard18 on Google for the latest and breaking digital news and industry updates, along with in-depth coverage of digital media and gaming news. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Storyboard18.
First Published on
May 14, 2026, 09:40:32 IST