AI: US-China security treaty, Ro Khanna wants it

An American politician has floated a proposal that sounds like science fiction, but might just be pragmatism. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has called for an AI safety treaty between the United States and China. The idea is simple: stop artificial intelligence from destroying us all.

It's not a small idea, mind you. Khanna is worried that AI could wreak havoc on the world, and he wants the two superpowers to agree on how to manage it. As if getting Washington and Beijing to see eye-to-eye were a walk in a daisy field.

Khanna's request comes just as President Donald Trump prepares to meet with CEOs of major tech and AI companies in Washington. Apparently, the topic is AI and its regulation. So, the timing isn't accidental.

But how realistic is such an agreement? Bringing together the leaders of the two most rivalrous countries right now for an AI treaty is a pretty big gamble. There are already enough tensions between the US and China; adding AI to the mix won't make things easier. The road to an understanding is long, probably endless.