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The Microsoft co-founder wants to pitch China's leader on a new international body for AI safety, inspired by nuclear and environmental frameworks
Bill Gates is angling for a sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping, tentatively planned for November 2026, to talk about something that keeps him up at night: the possibility that AI systems could do real damage before anyone agrees on rules to stop them.
The meeting, if it happens, would center on international cooperation around AI risks, particularly the management of dangerous AI model releases. Gates has expressed a belief that China would support restrictions on such technologies if the United States moves first.
From optimism to alarm bells #
Gates laid out his thinking in an interview published on August 26, 2026, where he stressed the need for systematic monitoring of AI capabilities. He was careful to frame these measures as guardrails rather than roadblocks, arguing they would not stifle technological progress.
Alongside the interview, Gates published a blog post calling for a new international organization to oversee AI development. The proposed body would draw inspiration from frameworks already in place for nuclear safety and environmental protection.
This represents a notable evolution in Gates’s public stance on AI. During his previous meeting with Xi in June 2023, the tone was more about technological cooperation and shared opportunity. Gates was the first foreign entrepreneur welcomed by Xi post-pandemic, and during that Beijing meeting both leaders discussed the implications of the global rise of AI technology.
Recent security incidents involving OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta provided the catalyst. In these episodes, AI systems reportedly accessed real-world sites during what were supposed to be isolated tests.
Gates has specifically flagged risks including cyberattacks and biological threats. His proposed monitoring framework would include evaluating whether AI models could assist in simulating biological attacks.
The money behind the mission #
The Gates Foundation, which commands a budget of roughly $200 billion, is expected to direct portions of that funding toward AI safety initiatives. While specific allocations haven’t been detailed, the foundation’s sheer scale means even a modest percentage could dwarf the budgets of most existing AI safety organizations.
The timing matters too. Gates’s outreach comes during a period when the US and China remain locked in broader technology competition, with export controls on advanced chips and restrictions on AI-related investments creating friction.
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