Tech Titans Gather at Trump-Xi Dinner Amid AI Power Struggle
On September 24, US President Donald Trump is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner. The guest list includes some of the biggest names in tech, such as Elon Musk, Jensen Huang from Nvidia, and Sam Altman from OpenAI. These executives are not just there for the photo opportunity; they have significant stakes in the AI power struggle between Washington and Beijing.
Nvidia supplies the chips that power the AI boom, while OpenAI is building leading AI models. Apple, Tesla, and other US tech groups retain interests tied to China. The presence of these executives comes as Washington and Beijing continue to clash over advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and trade.
Huang has argued that companies should not slow down development due to export controls or safety concerns. He believes that rapid development and safety are not mutually exclusive. However, some experts, like Dario Amodei from Anthropic, have called for slowing down AI development to allow for safety work to catch up.
The dinner itself may produce little technology policy, but the guest list shows that the companies building America's AI advantage are also among those most exposed to how Washington manages technological competition with China. Any shift in export policy could carry direct consequences for Nvidia and ripple through the wider AI ecosystem.